Which testing approach uses partial knowledge of the target system?

• A. Testing (Grey-Box)
• B. Testing (Black-Box)
• C. Testing (White-Box)
• D. Exploratory Testing

Answer: (A)

Partial knowledge of the target system is the hallmark of grey-box testing. In this approach, the tester has some insight into internal aspects—such as certain components, data flows, or the API contract—while still testing primarily from the user’s perspective. This lets you craft more targeted tests than a pure black-box approach, using what you know about how the system processes data or how its architecture is laid out to probe for issues, secure gaps, or edge cases.

Black-box testing challenges the system without any internal visibility, focusing only on inputs and expected outputs. White-box testing relies on full access to the internal code and logic, enabling tests that exercise specific code paths and internal structures. Exploratory testing emphasizes learning and test design on the fly, often without rigid test cases, and isn’t defined by possessing partial internal knowledge, though it can be used in conjunction with grey-box yields.