The Software Test Engineer's Handbook, 2nd Edition, 2nd Edition

7 Defect-Based Testing Techniques

Defect-based testing is a useful technique for focusing on and detecting particular types of defects. This chapter considers defect taxonomies and their role in implementing this technique. It also looks at the benefits and drawbacks of the technique and coverage expectations.

Terms used in this chapter

defect-based technique, defect-based test design, defect taxonomy

7.1 Introduction

Targeting specific bugs can help focus testing efforts.

Defect-based testing is used to target specific types of defects during testing. When the tester is performing defect-based test design, the target defects are determined based on taxonomies (a taxonomy is a hierarchical list) that list root causes, defects, failure symptoms, ...