What is the difference between positive and negative testing?
Theme: Testing Techniques Role: Qa Engineer/Test Engineer Function: Technology
Interview Question for QA Engineer/Test Engineer: See sample answers, motivations & red flags for this common interview question. About QA Engineer/Test Engineer: Ensure software quality through testing and quality assurance. This role falls within the Technology function of a firm. See other interview questions & further information for this role here
Sample Answer
Example response for question delving into Testing Techniques with the key points that need to be covered in an effective response. Customize this to your own experience with concrete examples and evidence
- Definition: Positive testing is focused on validating that the system behaves as expected when given valid inputs and conditions. Negative testing, on the other hand, is aimed at identifying how the system handles invalid inputs and unexpected conditions
- Purpose: Positive testing ensures that the system functions correctly under normal circumstances, while negative testing helps uncover vulnerabilities, errors, and weaknesses in the system
- Inputs: Positive testing uses valid inputs and conditions that are expected to produce the desired outcome. Negative testing uses invalid inputs, unexpected conditions, and edge cases that are likely to cause errors or unexpected behavior
- Expected Results: Positive testing expects the system to behave as intended and produce the expected output. Negative testing expects the system to handle errors gracefully, provide appropriate error messages, and not crash or produce unexpected results
- Coverage: Positive testing focuses on testing the normal and valid paths of the system, ensuring that all expected functionalities work correctly. Negative testing aims to cover the exceptional and invalid paths, testing how the system handles unexpected scenarios
- Risk Mitigation: Positive testing helps ensure that the system meets the functional requirements and performs as expected in typical scenarios. Negative testing helps identify and mitigate risks associated with potential vulnerabilities, errors, and unexpected behavior
- Test Cases: Positive testing involves creating test cases that validate the expected behavior of the system under normal conditions. Negative testing involves creating test cases that intentionally trigger errors, exceptions, or unexpected behavior
- Validation: Positive testing validates that the system meets the specified requirements and functions correctly under normal circumstances. Negative testing validates that the system can handle errors, exceptions, and unexpected scenarios without compromising its stability or functionality
Underlying Motivations
What the Interviewer is trying to find out about you and your experiences through this question
- Knowledge & understanding of testing concepts: Assessing if the candidate has a clear understanding of positive and negative testing and can explain the difference
- Experience & expertise in testing: Determining if the candidate has practical experience in conducting positive and negative testing in their previous roles
- Attention to detail: Evaluating if the candidate pays attention to details and can differentiate between positive and negative scenarios in testing
- Problem-solving skills: Assessing the candidate's ability to identify potential issues and risks in software testing by considering both positive and negative scenarios
Potential Minefields
How to avoid some common minefields when answering this question in order to not raise any red flags
- Lack of understanding: Providing incorrect or vague definitions of positive and negative testing
- Confusion: Mixing up positive and negative testing or using them interchangeably
- Limited knowledge: Inability to explain the purpose and benefits of positive and negative testing
- Inadequate examples: Failing to provide clear and relevant examples to differentiate positive and negative testing
- Overconfidence: Claiming to have extensive experience in positive and negative testing without being able to back it up with specific examples or projects