What is white-box testing?

White-box testing is used to test a software’s architecture, design, and programming techniques. It mainly focuses on verifying the flow of inputs and outputs within the application.

The code is visible to the tester in white-box testing.

White-box testing, also known as open box and glass box testing, is usually performed by developers.

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White-box testing focuses on the internal workings of an application. The term “white-box” is used because it symbolizes the ability to see through the software’s outer “box” into its internal structure (i.e., it is transparent).


This testing technique attempts to find errors in the following categories:

  • Internal security holes.
  • Broken or poorly structured paths in the coding processes.
  • Expected output.
  • Testing of each instruction, object, and method individually.

One of the most important goals of white-box testing is to verify a working flow for the application.

It involves testing a series of predefined inputs against expected or desired outputs so that when a specific input does not result in the expected output, the developer will know that there is a bug.

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