Orthogonal Array Testing

Research findings imply that 95% of issues of a system are caused by Double Mode Fault (faults caused by the 2 precise Parameter values which interact together).
Orthogonal array is a type of software testing strategy that uses when the system to be tested has huge data inputs/combinations and to focus more on finding double mode faults.
Such as; train ticket systems the factors such as - the number of passengers, ticket number, seat numbers, and the train numbers has to be tested, which becomes difficult when a tester verifies input one by one.
This type of pairing or combining of inputs and testing the system to save time is called pairwise testing. OATS technique is used for pairwise testing.

Example:

A microprocessor's functionality has to be tested:

· Temperature: 100C, 150C and 200C.

· Pressure : 2 psi,5psi and 8psi

· Doping Amount :4%,6% and 8%

· Deposition Rate : 0.1mg/s , 0.2 mg/s and 0.3mg/s

By using the Conventional method we need = 81 test cases to cover all the inputs.

Let's work with the OATS method:

No. of factors = 4 (temperature, pressure, doping amount and Deposition rate)

Levels = 3 levels per factor (temperature has 3 levels-100C, 150C, and 200C and likewise other factors too have levels)

Use this tool to generate the test cases.

· Fill the columns and rows with values and click Generate Pairwise

· It will generate a spreadsheet with combination need to be tested

See how 81 test cases reduced into 9 test cases using this technique.