Static analysis and review processes including work product examination, review types, roles, and success factors for reviews.
This chapter covers static testing techniques that examine work products without executing code. It explains which work products can be examined by static testing (requirements, user stories, source code, test plans, etc.), the value of static testing for early defect detection, and the key differences between static and dynamic testing. The feedback and review process is covered in detail, including benefits of early and frequent stakeholder feedback, review process activities (planning, review initiation, individual review, communication and analysis, fixing and reporting), roles and responsibilities in reviews (manager, author, moderator, scribe, reviewer), review types (informal, walkthrough, technical review, inspection), and success factors for effective reviews. (~7% of exam, K1-K2 cognitive levels)
5 minutes
5 Questions
Static testing is a software quality assurance technique that examines work products without executing code. It is a fundamental concept in the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level syllabus and forms an essential part of the testing process.
Static testing involves reviewing, inspecting, and analyzing software artifacts such as requirements documents, design specifications, source code, test cases, and other project documentation. Unlike dynamic testing, which requires code execution, static testing focuses on detecting defects early in the development lifecycle before the software is executed.
Key benefits of static testing include early defect detection, which reduces costs as fixing defects becomes increasingly expensive the later they are discovered. By identifying issues in requirements and design phases, organizations save significant resources. Additionally, static testing improves communication among team members and enhances overall software quality.
Common static testing techniques include reviews, walkthroughs, and inspections. Reviews are informal or formal evaluations where peers examine work products. Walkthroughs involve the author presenting the work product to a team, while inspections are formal, structured processes with defined roles and procedures.
Static analysis tools automate portions of static testing by analyzing code without execution, detecting potential bugs, security vulnerabilities, coding standard violations, and complexity issues.
Static testing complements dynamic testing; together they provide comprehensive quality assurance. While static testing catches issues early through document and code review, dynamic testing validates functionality through execution.
For ISTQB Foundation Level certification, understanding static testing principles, distinguishing it from dynamic testing, recognizing review types, and appreciating its role in quality assurance are essential. Static testing demonstrates that effective quality assurance begins before code execution, emphasizing prevention over detection of defects and promoting a proactive approach to software quality management throughout the development lifecycle.Static testing is a software quality assurance technique that examines work products without executing code. It is a fundamental concept in the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level syllabus and forms an essential part of the testing process.
Static testing involves reviewing, inspecting, and an…