Test coverage is a technique which determines if test cases are covering the application code. How much code is exercised when test cases run.
Basically, test coverage is a metric in software testing. Hence, it measures the tests performed by a set of tests. In addition, it also includes gathering of information about the parts of the program which are actually executed while the test suite is running. Therefore, it can help determine which branches of conditional statements were taken.
Uses Of Test Coverage
Test coverage is used for finding the area of a requirement which is not implemented by a set of test cases. Thus, creating additional test cases to increase coverage.
It is also helpful in identifying a quantitative measure of test coverage. However, this is an indirect method for quality check. In addition, it can also identify meaningless test cases that do not increase coverage.
Accomplishing Test Coverage
Accomplishing test coverage is possible:
- by exercising the static review techniques like peer reviews, inspections, and walk through
- through transforming the ad-hoc defects into executable test cases
- by availing the automated code coverage or unit test coverage tools at code or unit test level
- with the help of proper test management tools
Benefits Of Software Testing Coverage
- It can give assurance that the test will be of high quality
- It is helpful in identifying what portions of the code were actually touched for the release or fix
- Software testing coverage can prevent defect leakage
- Controlling time, scope and cost
- Prevents defect at an early stage of the project life cycle
- It can determine all the decision points and paths used in the application, thus can increase test coverage
- Gaps in requirements, test cases and defects at the unit level and code level may be found easily
How To Determine Testing Coverage
Figure Out The Scope Of Your Testing
- Frequent: most frequently used features
- Intensive: most intensive features
- Business-critical: features which support processes that need to work
- Obvious: features supporting the processes that will earn us bad press if they do not work
- Technically risky: features supported by or interact with technically risky aspects of the system
Understanding The Details Of Each Feature
- Structure: Include everything that comprises the physical product or the specific feature
- Functions: Is everything that the product or feature does
- Data: Include everything that the product or feature processes
- Platform: Refer to everything on which the product or feature depends
- Operations: Refer to how the product or feature will be used
- Time: Is any relationship between the product and time
More Ways To Determine Testing Coverage
- Structure your work in a way that makes sense to you
- Get your hands on the software you are testing
- Start with the components and build your way out from there
- Do not forget to regression test
Summing It Up
Software testing is very important as it is a way of making sure that end users will be able to enjoy the best software products.
Software testing is a meticulous, time consuming process. But still testers do it to make sure that the software products are, as much as possible, perfect before its release.
Software testing has a very wide scope, thus, covering almost all aspects of society, and the industry, in particular. Therefore, software testing, definitely, plays a big part in our lives.