Producing Robust Programs (2.3)

Question 1

What is input sanitisation

Answer 1

• to clean up input data, removing any unwanted data such as extra spaces, or removing special characters/symbols. This also helps prevent SQL injection.

Question 2

What is validation

Answer 2

• validating the data entered so that it fits a range of values, or is of a specific type. Entered data must fit criteria to prevent logical errors and unexpected outcomes

Question 3

What is authentication

Answer 3

• only allowing authorised users to access data through use of usernames and passwords etc.

Question 4

What is maintainable code

Answer 4

• this allows other programmers to also understand the code, especially when dealing with large programs

Question 5

What 4 ways can maintain code

Answer 5

• Comments : annotating the code to make it easier to understand and read
• Indentation : spacing the code appropriately, so it is easily to follow different sections of the program and what they do
• Meaningful identifier names : using appropriate names for identifiers (variables, constants etc.) linked to the purpose so it does not cause confusion
• Use of sub-programs :
  allows programmer to structure code so parts can be developed and changed independently without affecting the rest of the program

Question 6

Why do you test your code

Answer 6

• Testing allows the programmer to test the function of programs to make sure they work as expected

Question 7

What is iterative testing

Answer 7

• carried out while the program is being developed (ongoing) so different sections of code are tested out by the programmer

Question 8

What is Final/Terminal testing

Answer 8

• carried out when all the sections of the program and code have been completed and developed. The program is tested as a whole to make sure it functions as expected.

Question 9

What is normal test data

Answer 9

• selecting valid/expected values to see if the program accepts these without causing errors e.g. if the valid numbers are 1-10 then choose a number within this range

Question 10

What is Invalid/Erroneous test data

Answer 10

• selecting data which the program should not accept such as entering “six” as string instead of 6 as integer so it should be rejected

Question 11

What is boundary test data

Answer 11

• selecting values which lie on the boundary of the accepted range of values e.g. if 1-10 are valid values then entering 0,1,10,11 are boundary data