What is Loop Testing? (Methodology with Examples)


What is Loop Testing, and how does it work?

Loop Testing is a form of software testing that focuses only on the correctness of loop structures. It's a component of Control Structure Testing (path testing, data validation testing, condition testing).

White box testing is loop testing. This method is used to test the program's loops.

Loop Testing's goals are as follows −

The goal of loop testing is to −

  • To solve the problem of endless loop repeating.

  • To be aware of the performance.

  • The goal is to figure out what's wrong with the loop's startup.

  • To find the variables that haven't been initialized.

How to Perform Loop Testing: A Step-by-Step Guide

It must be verified at three distinct stages while testing the loop −

  • When the loop is activated

  • During the loop's execution and

  • after it's completed

Loop Testing Types − Loop testing is divided into three categories based on the loop types −

Simple Loop Testing

Simple Loop Testing is a type of testing that is carried out in a single loop. A simple loop is essentially a standard "for," "while," or "do-while" loop in which a condition is specified and the loop runs and ends based on whether the condition is true or not. This sort of testing is used to determine whether the loop's state is adequate to terminate the loop at a certain point in time.

Example

while(condition) {
   statement(s);
}

The following is how a basic loop is tested −

  • Make a single run across the loop.

  • Pass two times through the loop.

  • Make a number of passes through the loop, where ab, n is the maximum number of passes.

  • Make b, b-1; b+1 loop passes, where “b” is the maximum number of loop passes that may be made.

Nested Loop Testing

Nested Loop Testing is a type of testing that is carried out in a nested loop. A nested loop is a loop that is nested inside another loop. There can be a finite amount of loops inside a loop in a nested loop, resulting in a nest. It can be any of the three loops − for, while, or do-while.

Example

while(condition 1) {
   while(condition 2) {
      statement(s);
   }
}

The procedures for creating a nested loop are as follows

  • Set all other loops to their smallest value and begin with the innermost loop.

  • Perform a basic loop test for the innermost loop and keep the outside loops at their lowest iteration parameter value.

  • Test the next loop and work your way outward.

  • Continue until you've tested the outermost loop.

Concatenated Loop Testing

Concatenated loop testing refers to testing that is done in a loop. It is applied to the loops that have been concatenated. Loops following loops are known as concatenated loops. It's made up of loops. The difference between nested and concatenated loops is that in nested loops, the loop is inside the loop, but in concatenated loops, the loop is after the loop.

Example

while(condition 1) {
   statement(s);
}
while(condition 2) {
   statement(s);
}

If two loops are independent of one other, they are either tested as simple loops or as nested loops in concatenated loops. However, if one loop's loop counter is utilized as the beginning value for the others, the loops are not considered independent.

Unstructured Loop Testing

Unstructured loop testing refers to testing that takes place in an unstructured loop. The combination of nested and concatenated loops is known as an unstructured loop. It's just a collection of loops that aren't in any particular order.

Example

while(){
   for()
   {}
   while()
   {}
}

It is necessary to restructure the architecture of unstructured loops to reflect the use of structured programming techniques.

Purpose of Loop Testing

The following are the reasons why loop testing is performed −

  • The loop recurrence concerns can be resolved by testing.

  • Loop testing can uncover limitations in performance or capacity.

  • The loop's uninitialized variables can be find out by testing loops.

  • It aids in the detection of loop initiation issues.

Loop Testing Limitations

  • Loop flaws are most commonly seen in low-level applications.

  • The problems discovered during loop testing aren't particularly subtle.

  • Many flaws may be discovered by the operating system, resulting in memory boundary violations, detectable pointer errors, and other issues.

Loop Testing Benefits

Loop testing has the following benefits −

  • The number of loop iterations is limited by loop testing.

  • Loop testing guarantees that the software does not enter an infinite loop.

  • Loop testing necessitates the initialization of all variables used within the loop.

  • Loop testing aids in the detection of various issues inside the loop.

  • Loop testing aids in capacity assessment.

Summary

  • Loop testing is a type of White Box testing used in software engineering. This method is used to test the program's loops.

  • Loop testing can uncover limitations in performance or capacity.

  • Loop flaws are most commonly seen in low-level applications.

Updated on: 17-Dec-2021

5K+ Views

Kickstart Your Career

Get certified by completing the course

Get Started
Advertisements