What is the difference between dynamic testing and static testing?

Static testing is the analysis of program code or documentation without executing the program. Examples include code reviews, static analysis, and requirements verification. It allows early detection of errors, such as syntax errors and non-compliance with standards.

Dynamic testing involves testing the program during its execution. It includes functional testing, load testing, integration testing, etc. It helps verify system behavior, find logical errors, and identify performance issues.

The key difference: static testing does not require code execution, while dynamic testing does.

For example, a static code analyzer can find potential memory leaks, while dynamic testing shows how the program behaves under real load.