{"id":96240,"date":"2024-06-19T09:29:17","date_gmt":"2024-06-19T09:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.checkmarx.com\/?post_type=learn&p=96240"},"modified":"2026-04-27T13:54:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T11:54:32","slug":"sast-vs-dast","status":"publish","type":"learn","link":"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/sast\/sast-vs-dast\/","title":{"rendered":"SAST vs DAST: Key Differences, Use Cases and When to Use Each"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Static application security testing (SAST) identifies risks in source code or non-live binaries, while dynamic application security testing (DAST) scans running applications for security flaws. Because each type of security test works differently, most teams should use them together to maximize their ability to detect all potential risks.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n

Which application security testing method do you need \u2014 SAST or DAST? In most cases, the answer is \u201cboth\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SAST and DAST play unique roles in application security, and virtually all organizations should leverage each type of testing to maximize its ability to uncover security risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the longer answer, keep reading as we break down everything you need to know about the differences between SAST and DAST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SAST vs DAST at a Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s begin by defining what each type of security testing means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Category<\/th>\nSAST<\/th>\nDAST<\/th>\n<\/tr><\/thead>\n
Full name<\/strong><\/td>\nStatic Application Security Testing<\/td>\nDynamic Application Security Testing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What it tests<\/strong><\/td>\nSource code or static binaries<\/td>\nRunning applications<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Testing method<\/strong><\/td>\nWhite-box testing<\/td>\nBlack-box testing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
When it is used<\/strong><\/td>\nEarly in the SDLC<\/td>\nLater in testing, before production<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What it detects best<\/strong><\/td>\nCoding flaws, insecure patterns, vulnerable dependencies, known weaknesses in code<\/td>\nRuntime issues, exploitable behavior, authentication problems, misconfigurations, and vulnerabilities exposed in live environments<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What it requires<\/strong><\/td>\nAccess to source code or binaries<\/td>\nA deployed application in a test or staging environment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Primary users<\/strong><\/td>\nDevelopers, AppSec teams<\/td>\nSecurity testers, AppSec teams, QA, DevOps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Main advantage<\/strong><\/td>\nFinds issues early, before deployment<\/td>\nValidates whether vulnerabilities are actually exploitable in a running app<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Main limitation<\/strong><\/td>\nCannot see runtime behavior<\/td>\nCannot inspect source code directly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best use case<\/strong><\/td>\nShift-left testing during development<\/td>\nValidation of real-world behavior before release<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is SAST?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

SAST, which is short for Static Application Security Testing<\/a>, is a security testing method that scans application source code or static binaries to uncover risks. The main purpose of SAST<\/a> is to detect known vulnerabilities, such as application code or dependencies that are linked to vulnerabilities recorded as part of CVE databases<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SAST is sometimes called a form of \u201cwhite box\u201d testing because it involves scanning for security issues from an insider\u2019s perspective. With SAST, you evaluate your applications in a form that typically would not be available to threat actors, who do not usually have access to source code or static binaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is DAST?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

DAST<\/a>, or Dynamic Application Security Testing<\/a>, is the process of testing running applications. Typically, DAST scans work by simulating the same types of malicious activities that attackers might perform if they were attacking an application in production. Then, DAST tools assess how the application responds to the simulated attacks to determine whether it would be vulnerable in the real world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAST is considered a type of \u201cblack box\u201d testing because DAST tools scan applications from the same vantage point that attackers have, running code, \u2013 from the outside looking in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key differences between SAST and DAST<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main differences between SAST and DAST boil down to the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nTesting methodology<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

SAST focuses on testing static code, while DAST tests live applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nTesting requirements<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

SAST tests require access to application source code or static binaries, while DAST requires a live application hosted in a test environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nStage in the SDLC<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

SAST scans typically occur earlier in the Software Development Lifecycle<\/a> (SDLC) than DAST tests, which are usually the last major type of security test to occur prior to application deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nTypes of risks uncovered<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In general, SAST excels at detecting known vulnerabilities, whereas DAST is better at catching security issues that have not been publicly reported \u2013 such as those that originate from flaws in original code written by an application\u2019s developers, as opposed to third-party code or dependencies they included in the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When to Use SAST vs DAST<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Use SAST<\/strong> when you want to identify security issues as early as possible in the software development lifecycle. SAST is best suited for detecting insecure coding patterns, vulnerable code paths, and known weaknesses before an application is compiled, deployed, or exposed in a live environment. It is especially useful for developers and AppSec teams trying to shift security left and reduce remediation costs earlier in the pipeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use DAST<\/strong> when you need to test how a running application behaves under real-world attack conditions. DAST is most valuable once the application is deployed in a test or staging environment and can be scanned from the outside in. It helps uncover runtime issues, misconfigurations, and exploitable behavior that static analysis may not detect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In practice, most organizations should not choose one over the other. They should use SAST earlier<\/strong> and DAST later<\/strong> as complementary testing methods. SAST helps prevent vulnerabilities from progressing through development, while DAST helps confirm whether weaknesses are actually exploitable in a running application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combining SAST And DAST For Robust Application Security<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because SAST and DAST serve different purposes, it would be a big mistake to treat SAST as a substitute for DAST, or vice versa. Instead, most teams should perform both types of testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It typically makes sense to ask developers to run SAST tests<\/a> early in the SDLC, in order to uncover common vulnerabilities before developers have gone to the effort of compiling code and deploying it into a test environment. However, once the code is up and running in testing, DAST scans should occur to detect risks that eluded SAST testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to note that even when you perform both SAST and DAST, there\u2019s no guarantee that you\u2019ll detect all risks \u2013 even with the help of advanced testing techniques, like AI-powered SAST tests<\/a>. No testing method is perfect, or guarantees complete coverage of every potential vulnerability or exploit technique that could impact your application. But when you integrate both SAST and DAST into the SDLC, you maximize your chances of detecting risks before your application enters production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, by running SAST and DAST on the same AppSec platform<\/a>, such as Checkmarx One, teams can correlate results from each type of test to gain more context into potential vulnerabilities and risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, a SAST scan might reveal that an application includes potentially vulnerable code, but because SAST scans don\u2019t simulate interactions with applications, they can\u2019t definitively confirm that an exploit is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A DAST, however, could achieve this confirmation by testing whether the application actually responds to the exploit technique associated with the potential vulnerability. Based on this insight derived from a combined SAST and DAST testing strategy, engineers would know they should prioritize fixing the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other types of Application Security Testing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SAST and DAST are not the only types of security testing available. Other common testing and scanning methods include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n