What is error prediction?
Error guessing is a technique where experienced testers devise scenarios where software testing can fail. Testers have a lot of experience as testers or working with a particular system and thus can find the weak points of the system.
This is why a guess-and-error approach, used after more formal techniques have been applied to some extent, can be very effective. It also saves a lot of time as assumptions and guesses are made by experienced testers to find defects that would otherwise be impossible to find.
The success of error guessing depends a lot on the skill of the tester, as the more experienced testers will know the most likely location for the error.
When using formal techniques, testers can get a better understanding of the system, its functions and how it works. With this better understanding, the person can better guess the ways in which the system may not behave properly.
Some examples of error guessing in software testing
- Divide by 0
- Enter a space in the text field
- Press the submit button without entering the value
- Enter the number of characters too long
- Enter special data into textboxes such as html characters. script and submit
- Enter some SQL statements for the username, password and submit fields
- Turn on f12 to edit some data and manipulate the interface
- Click the back button on the browser
Elements to use error guessing technique
To apply this error guessing technique we will rely on the following factors:
- Lessons learned from previous software tests, common mistakes
- Have relevant knowledge, understand the business of the system
- Concentrating testing in sections, each function will help testers focus on finding out where the problems occur
- Based on Production tickets
- Review checklist among members
- Based on the software’s risk report
