THE DEFINITION OF TESTING
Stop for a moment to define testing for you. (Don't peak ahead!) Does one of the following definitions match yours?
Testing is a process designed to
• Prove that the program is error free
• Establish that the software performs its function correctly
• Establish with confidence that the software does its job fully
If yours matches, you are in for a surprise because testing is none of these. Rather it is properly defined as follows (see Concepts):
Concepts - Testing is the task of locating errors.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD DEFINITION
Any definition of testing is more than a passive description. It has a profound impact on the way testing is carried out. Since people are highly goal-oriented, the setting of proper goals can mean the difference between success and failure. If the goal of testing were to prove [that a program or process functions properly], the tester would subconsciously work......
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