Software Testing Glossary - Software Testing as a Service - page 192

N
N-switch coverage: The percentage of sequences of N + 1 transitions that have been
exercised by a test suite.
N-switch testing: A form of state transition testing in which test cases are designed
to execute all valid sequences of N + 1 transitions. See also state transition testing .
Negative testing: Tests aimed at showing that a component or system does not work.
Negative testing is related to the testers' attitude rather than a specific test approach
or test design technique (e.g., testing with invalid input values or exceptions).
Nonconformity: Nonfulfillment of a specified requirement. [ISO 9000]
Nonfunctional requirement: A requirement that does not relate to functionality, but
to attributes such as reliability, efficiency, usability, maintainability, and portability.
Nonfunctional testing: Testing the attributes of a component or system that do
not relate to functionality (e.g., reliability, efficiency, usability, maintainability,
and portability).
Nonfunctional test design techniques: Procedure to derive and/or select test cases for
nonfunctional testing based on an analysis of the specification of a component or sys-
tem without reference to its internal structure. See also black box test design technique .
O
Off-shoring: Outsourcing a project and executing it using facilities and resources
located at an off-shore location; usually to a low-cost country.
Off-the-shelf software: A software product that is developed for the general mar-
ket (i.e., for a large number of customers) and that is delivered to many customers
in identical format.
Operability: The capability of the software product to enable the user to operate
and control it. [ISO 9126] See also usability .
Operational environment: Hardware and software products installed at users'
or customers' sites where the component or system under test will be used. The
software may include operating systems, database management systems, and other
applications.
Operational profile testing: Statistical testing using a model of system operations
(short duration tasks) and their probability of typical use.
Operational testing: Testing conducted to evaluate a component or system in its
operational environment. [IEEE 610]
Oracle: See test oracle .
Outcome: See result .
Output: A variable (whether stored within a component or outside) that is written
by a component.
Output domain: The set from which valid output values can be selected. See
also domain .