Specification-based technique is that they derive test cases directly from the specification or from some other kind of model of what the system should do. If a test basis is well defined and adequately structured we can easily identify test conditions from which test cases can be derived. There are three specification based techniques.
Equivalence Class Partitioning: Testing cannot be done with all possible input conditions for validating any UI element, feature. We can divide the range in to partitions, take one from each possible partition and test that particular text box. Equivalence Partitions are also known as equivalence classes. It can be used to achieve input and output coverage goals. It can be applied to human input, input via interfaces to a system, or interface parameters in integration testing.
Boundary value analysis: Boundary Value Analysis is also a specification based black-box testing technique. It is mainly based on testing the boundaries between partitions. Boundary value analysis can be applied at all test levels. It is relatively easy to apply and its defect-finding capability is high.
Decision Table: Decision Table is a type of Black-Box testing used to design the test cases with different combination of inputs. In this type of testing technique a table is designed with set of combinations and conditions. Specification-based technique is that specifications or models do not define how a system should achieve the specified behavior when it is built; it is a specification of the required behavior.
Specification-based techniques are popular by more refined names like behavior-based techniques or Black Box test design techniques. These techniques can be used for any level of test activity. These are used by both test analysts and technical test analysts, but exploited mainly by the test analysts. The purpose of a test design technique is to identify test conditions, test cases, and test data.
