Software Quality Assurance Practice Exam

Which type of analysis is used when assessing a program's internal structures?

1. Static analysis

2. Black-box analysis

3. Dynamic analysis

4. White-box analysis

The correct answer is: White-box analysis

The correct answer is the analysis of the internal structures of a program, which is typically referred to as white-box analysis. This type of analysis allows testers to look at the internal workings or code structure of the software. White-box analysis involves understanding how the software is implemented, including its algorithms, control flow, data structures, and the interactions between components. This deep insight helps in identifying potential vulnerabilities, logical errors, or inefficiencies in the code. In contrast, other forms of analysis focus on different aspects of the software. Static analysis examines the code without executing it, analyzing it for potential errors or security vulnerabilities based purely on the code structure. This is beneficial but does not delve into the execution context. Black-box analysis assesses the functionality of the program based solely on its inputs and outputs, without any knowledge of its internal code or structure. Lastly, dynamic analysis involves executing the program to observe its behavior during runtime, which can provide insights into performance issues but does not directly analyze the internal structure as white-box analysis does. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why white-box analysis is the appropriate choice for evaluating a program’s internal architecture.