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

Boundary value analysis is primarily utilized to design test cases that focus on edge cases of input values. The fundamental principle behind this technique is that errors often occur at the boundaries of input ranges rather than within the ranges themselves. By specifically targeting these boundary values, testers can effectively uncover issues that may not be evident when examining typical value sets.

For instance, if a system accepts input values ranging from 1 to 100, boundary value analysis would involve testing values like 0, 1, 100, and 101, as these represent the limits of the acceptable input. This approach helps ensure that the software behaves as expected at its edges, identifying potential defects that could lead to failures during real-world usage.

In contrast, performance testing under stress, identifying security vulnerabilities, or verifying data integrity focuses on different aspects of system behavior and reliability. These approaches are not primarily concerned with the input boundaries themselves but rather with overall system robustness, security strength, or data consistency across various operations. Thus, the specific focus of boundary value analysis on edge cases makes it a crucial method in designing effective test cases for software quality assurance.