Applying formal specification and functional testing to graphical user interfaces

A validation approach is presented for testing the functionalities of graphical user interfaces (GUIs). This validation approach attempts to derive tests from formal functional specifications of a GUI. In order to identify and test all display objects and functions systematically, an algebraic notation for enumeration is developed. This algebraic notation is used with path algebras, function decomposition and concepts of functionally equivalent sequences (FESs) and functionally independent sequences (FISs) to reduce the number of test cases. Test cases can be written precisely and concisely in this notation. Criteria for test case selection are developed, and some preliminary results in error detection are presented