White-box Testing

In short: In a white-box test source code and structure are known, and the tests deliberately check the inner logic.

In more detail: Testers see code, paths and conditions and check whether each branch works correctly.

In Depth

Techniques

Statement, branch and path coverage, code reviews, static analysis. Unit tests are typically white box.

In security

In a pentest, white box means full knowledge (code, architecture, access) and finds more holes in less time. Counterpart: black-box testing. See pentesting, quality assurance and tests.

See also: Black-box Testing, Penetration Testing, Qualitätssicherung und Tests