In the context of testing, what is boundary value analysis primarily used for?

Boundary value analysis is a testing technique primarily focused on identifying errors at the edges of input value ranges. This method is based on the observation that errors often occur at the boundaries of input domains rather than within the ranges themselves. By designing test cases that specifically target these edge cases, boundary value analysis helps ensure that the application handles limit conditions effectively, such as values that are just above, below, or equal to the boundaries.

In practice, when utilizing boundary value analysis, testers would typically select values at the lower and upper limits as well as just outside those limits, allowing thorough evaluation of how the system responds to these critical inputs. This makes the approach particularly useful in scenarios involving numerical input, such as ranges for age, salary, or quantity.

While the other options describe important aspects of testing, they do not directly align with the primary focus of boundary value analysis. Stress testing is concerned with assessing system performance under extreme conditions, security testing is aimed at uncovering vulnerabilities, and data integrity verification involves ensuring consistency and accuracy across different systems. In contrast, boundary value analysis zeroes in on those critical points where input values can provoke unexpected behavior, making it a vital technique in test case design.