MBT lifecycle

Working with MBT includes the following basic steps.

In this topic:

Step 1: Create a model

Business analysts and QA leads work together to create a comprehensive model of the business processes run by the application.

This model is built out of units, and each unit corresponds to a single automated test script. For example, one unit can be Log in, another can be Search for item, and another can be Pay with credit card.

There are two ways to work with MBT:

• Build a model using placeholder units, and then create test scripts in a testing tool such as UFT One. You can then associate each placeholder with a test script.

• Create tests in a testing tool such as UFT One and save them in your Git repository. MBT can automatically discover tests in Git, and create auto-discovered units for these tests. You can then use these units to build a model.

In addition, if you define requirements and features in MBT, you can associate a model with related features or requirements. This can help you to ensure that new features or requirements are properly covered in testing.

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Step 2: Generate paths to test

After building a model, you need to decide on a testing strategy that defines which paths in the model to test.

For example, you might want to focus testing on closed defects. In this case you would test the paths that contain units where defects were recently closed, to ensure that defect fixes did not have unintended consequences.

When you select a testing strategy, MBT automatically creates a comprehensive list of all the paths along the model that should be tested, based on that strategy.

Each path represents a list of test scripts that should be run in a specific order.

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Step 3: Create and run tests

From the list of paths generated by your testing strategy, choose one or more paths to test. When you select a path, you can see a visual representation of the path to understand which units will be tested.

Each path is converted to an MBT test entity. You then assign the relevant test data for each MBT test. For example, you might run multiple iterations of a test using different user and password combinations.

You then assign one or more MBT tests to a test suite. When you run a test suite, each iteration of the test using a particular set of test data is a single test run.

MBT can run a test suite using a testing tool such as UFT One or Functional Test Execution. You then view test results in MBT.

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Advantages of MBT

Model-based testing is a software testing technique in which test cases are generated based on a graphical model that describes the functional aspects of the system under test.

MBT enables you to create models representing your application's business processes. You can link between the units comprising your model, and corresponding test scripts. You then generate test suites to test specific units based on your testing requirements, and run tests in a testing tool such as UFT One.

Working with MBT provides you with the following advantages:

• Collaborate between application experts and QA teams.

• Focus your testing on the most critical areas of the application.

• Manage your test data and view automated testing results over time, in one central location.

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