Structure Based or White Box Testing Techniques

What are Structure-Based Techniques?

Structure-based (white box) techniques derive test cases from the internal structure of the code, such as its statements, branches, and paths, rather than from external specifications.

Common Structure-Based Techniques

• Statement Coverage: Ensuring every line of code is executed at least once.
• Branch Coverage: Ensuring every decision point (true/false branch) is executed.
• Path Coverage: Ensuring every possible path through the code is executed.
• Cyclomatic Complexity & Basis Path Testing: Using code complexity metrics to design a minimal, thorough set of test paths.

Why Use White Box Techniques?

These techniques help uncover dead code, unreachable paths, and logical errors that black box testing — which only looks at inputs and outputs — might not detect.