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Exception Partitions in White-Box Testing

publish date: 2026/06/17 05:49:38.915407 UTC

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A developer examines the source code and finds that the program includes specific exception handlers for negative number inputs, zero inputs, and very large number inputs. How can this knowledge be used in test-case design?

This knowledge indicates that the exception handlers should be removed before testing

This knowledge should be ignored because test cases must be based only on the specification

This knowledge means the program should be re-written to eliminate exception handling

This knowledge can be used to identify exception partitions - ranges where the same exception handling should be applied

Correct Answer

This knowledge can be used to identify exception partitions - ranges where the same exception handling should be applied

Explanation

Code examination in white-box testing can reveal exception partitions - different ranges of inputs where the same exception handling applies. These become additional test partitions beyond those identified from the specification alone. This is a key advantage of supplementing black-box testing with white-box approaches.

Reference

Software Engineering, Ian Sommerville, 10th edition

Quizzes you can take where this question appears

Choosing Unit Test Cases - Partition Testing