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Test Coverage in Software Testing
What exactly is test coverage?
In software testing, test coverage is defined as a statistic that indicates the quantity of testing completed by a collection of tests. It will entail obtaining information about which sections of a program are executed when the test suite is performed in order to establish whether conditional statement branches have been taken.
It is a way for making sure that your tests are testing your code or how much of your code you exercised by running the test.
Code Coverage and Test Coverage
Code coverage and test coverage are frequently mistaken. Even while the basic concepts are the same, they are not the same.
Code Coverage refers to unit testing procedures that must target all parts of the code at least once and are performed by developers.
Test Coverage, on the other hand, entails testing every requirement at least once and is clearly the responsibility of the QA team.
What truly counts as a covered need is determined by each team's perspective.
Some teams, for example, consider a requirement covered if it has at least one test case against it. It is occasionally covered if at least one team member is assigned to it. Alternatively, if all of the test cases connected with it are run.
If there are 10 requirements and 100 tests are written, we call this appropriate testing coverage at the design level if the 100 tests target all of the 10 criteria and do not leave any out.
When just 80 of the prepared tests are performed and only 6 of the requirements are targeted. Despite the fact that 80 percent of testing has been completed, we claim that four standards have not been met. This is coverage data at the execution level.
When only 90 tests related to 8 requirements have testers assigned to them and the remainder do not, we say the test assignment coverage is 80%. (8 out of 10 requirements).
It is also critical to know when to compute coverage.
If you do this too early in the process, you will see a lot of gaps since items are still missing. As a result, it is typically recommended to wait until the Last Build, often known as the Final Regression Build. This ensures that the Tests run for the supplied Requirements are correctly covered.
What is the purpose of Test Coverage?
Identifying the region of a requirement that is not covered by a collection of test cases
It aids in the creation of new test cases in order to enhance coverage.
Developing a quantifiable metric of test coverage as an indirect technique of quality control
Identifying useless test scenarios that do not contribute to increased coverage
How is Test Coverage Achievable?
Test coverage may be achieved by the use of static review techniques such as peer reviews, inspections, and walkthroughs.
By converting ad hoc flaws into executable test cases
Test coverage may be done at the code or unit test level by using automated code coverage or unit test coverage technologies.
Functional test coverage may be accomplished with the assistance of appropriate test management technologies.
Advantages of Test Coverage
It can ensure the test's quality.
It can aid in determining whether parts of the code were actually modified for release or repair.
It can aid in identifying untested pathways in your application.
Prevent the spread of flaws.
Time, scope, and cost may all be managed.
Prevention of defects at an early point of the project's lifetime
It can determine all of the application's decision points and pathways, allowing you to enhance test coverage.
Gaps in requirements, test cases, and problems at the unit and code levels may be easily identified.
How should a good Test Coverage technique be implemented?
Everything revolves around awareness −
First and foremost, the QA team must understand the scope of the project and the status of the design activities. They will be notified if further tests are introduced in this manner. You might utilize an RTM to do this, as is common practice.
Second, look into the resource assignment and test execution procedures to ensure that everything is tested as quickly as feasible.
How can you ensure that everything has been tested?
Every tester should be knowledgeable of the requirements as well as the testing procedures.
Prioritize your needs and direct your efforts where it is most required.
Be aware of how a particular release differs from prior ones so that you may more precisely identify important needs and focus on maximum positive coverage
Modify Test Automation
Use test management tools to ensure that you are constantly up to date.
Assignment of intelligent work- Concentrate your finest personnel on important tasks and allow new testers to explore more from a different viewpoint.
Keeping a checklist for all jobs and other activities
Interact more with your Dev/Scrum/BA teams to have a better understanding of the application's behavior.
Maintain a record of all your build cycles and fixes.
Be aware of how a particular release differs from prior ones so that you may more precisely identify important needs and focus on maximum positive coverage.
Use test management tools to ensure that you are constantly up to date.
Assignment of intelligent work- Concentrate your finest personnel on important tasks and allow new testers to explore more from a different viewpoint.
Keeping a checklist for all jobs and other activities
Interact more with your Dev/Scrum/BA teams to have a better understanding of the application's behavior.
Maintain a record of all your build cycles and fixes.
Areas and techniques for efficient testing that are critical
Resource jumbling − Distribute duties among your team members. This improves engagement while preventing information focus.
Compatibility coverage − Ensure that you are aware of and include the various browsers and systems while testing your application.
Ownership − Hold testers accountable and give them complete autonomy (with monitoring and assistance, of course) over the module/task they are working on. This fosters responsibility and allows them to experiment with new approaches rather than sticking to the tried-and-true.
Deadlines − Knowing the release deadlines before the testing process begins aids inefficient planning.
Communication − Keep in touch with the development and other teams in between release cycles to stay up to date on what's going on.
Maintain an RTM − Serves as a good derivative to stakeholders or clients, allowing the release schedule to be confirmed.
Test Coverage Calculation Formula
To determine test coverage, follow the methods outlined below −
Step 1 − The total number of lines of code in the program quality you are assessing.
Step 2 −The total amount of lines of code that all test cases are presently executing.
You must now multiply (X divided by Y) by 100. This computation yields your test coverage percentage.
As an example −
If you have 500 lines of code in a system component and 50 lines run across all current test cases, your test coverage is −
10% = (50 / 500) * 100
Product coverage – Which parts of the product did you examine?
Yes, while measuring testing coverage in terms of product, the primary topic to focus on is - which sections of the product have you tested and which remain untested?
Example #1 − If you're testing a "knife," don't worry about whether or not it slices the vegetables/fruits properly. Other factors to consider are the user's ability to handle it comfortably.
Example #2 − Checking relevant features is a requirement if you are evaluating an application called "notepad." Other considerations include: the application responding properly while using other applications at the same time, the application not crashing when the user tries to do something unusual, the user receiving proper warning/error messages, the user being able to understand and use the application easily, and the availability of help content when needed. You cannot say that the application's testing coverage is comprehensive unless you investigate the aforementioned scenarios.
Risk Coverage – What risks have you checked for?
Another component of having comprehensive testing coverage is risk coverage. You cannot label a product or application as "tested" until you have also tested the related hazards. Coverage of related hazards is a critical component of total testing coverage.
Example #1 − What would your reaction be if, when testing an airplane, a tester told you that he/she had completely examined the internal system of the airplane and that it was operating properly, but that only the flying capacity of the airplane had not been covered during testing? That is, after all, what risk coverage entails. Identifying risks specific to the application/product and properly testing it is always a smart approach.
Example #2 − While testing an e-commerce site, the tester assessed every effective feature but failed to account for the potential of a huge number of consumers accessing the website at the same time, which proved to be a major error on Super OFFER day.
Coverage of requirements – What requirements have you tested for?
If a product or application is well-developed but does not meet the needs of the client, it is useless. Product coverage is just as essential as requirement coverage during testing.
Example #1 − You requested the tailor to sew your dress and add those peacock blue display buttons on the neckline since you were excited about the family gathering. While stitching the garment, the tailor decided that putting those buttons on the neckline would be unappealing, so he embroidered a golden border instead. Certainly, on the trial day, the dissatisfied customer yelled at the tailor for not adhering to the specifications.
Example #2 − While testing a chat application, the tester took care of all the important points, such as multiple users chatting in a group, two users chatting independently, all types of emoticons available, updates sent to the user immediately, and so on, but forgot to look at the requirement document, which clearly stated that when two users chat independently, the video call option should be enabled. The client advertised the chat program as allowing calling while two people talk independently. You can picture what would have happened to the chat application if this had occurred.
Cons
Because there are no tools to automate most of the activities in the test coverage manual. As a result, it requires a significant amount of time to assess the requirements and develop test cases.
Test coverage allows you to count features and then compare them to many tests. However, there is always room for blunders in judgment.
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