Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Experienced-based test design technique:
Procedure to derive and/or select test
cases based on the tester's experience, knowledge, and intuition.
Exploratory testing:
An informal test design technique where the tester actively
controls the design of the tests as those tests are performed and uses information
gained while testing to design new and better tests.
F
Fail:
A test is deemed to fail if its actual result does not match its expected result.
Failure:
Deviation of the component or system from its expected delivery, service,
or result.
Failure mode:
The physical or functional manifestation of a failure. For example, a
system in failure mode may be characterized by slow operation, incorrect outputs,
or complete termination of execution. [IEEE 610]
Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA):
A systematic approach to risk iden-
tification and analysis of identifying possible modes of failure and attempting to
prevent their occurrence.
Failure rate:
The ratio of the number of failures of a given category to a given unit
of measure (e.g., failures per unit of time, failures per number of transactions, fail-
ures per number of computer runs). [IEEE 610]
Fault:
See
defect
.
Fault density:
See
defect density
.
Fault Detection Percentage (FDP):
See
Defect Detection Percentage (DDP).
Fault masking:
See
defect masking
.
Fault tolerance:
The capability of the software product to maintain a specified
level of performance in cases of software faults (defects) or of infringement of its
specified interface. [ISO 9126] See also
reliability
.
Fault tree analysis:
A method used to analyze the causes of faults (defects).
Feasible path:
A path for which a set of input values and preconditions exists
which causes it to be executed.
Feature:
An attribute of a component or system specified or implied by requirements
documentation (e.g., reliability, usability, or design constraints). [IEEE 1008]
Field testing:
See
beta testing
.
Finite state machine:
A computational model consisting of a finite number of states
and transitions between those states, possibly with accompanying actions. [IEEE 610]
Finite state testing:
See
state transition testing
.
Formal review:
A review characterized by documented procedures and require-
ments (e.g., inspection).
Frozen test basis:
A test basis document that can only be amended by a formal
change control process. See also
baseline
.
Function Point Analysis (FPA):
Method aiming to measure the size of the
functionality of an information system. The measurement is independent of the
