Statement coverage
Learn about Statement Coverage, a key metric in software testing that measures the execution of executable statements in a program, ensuring comprehensive test suite evaluation.
Statement Coverage is a metric used to measure the extent to which the executable statements of a program have been exercised by a test suite. It is a form of code coverage that focuses on ensuring that each line of code is executed at least once during the testing process. By verifying the execution of individual statements, statement coverage helps identify parts of the code that are not being tested, which may harbor hidden defects or untested paths. This metric is particularly useful in white-box testing, where testers have access to the internal structure of the component or system being tested.
Achieving 100% statement coverage does not necessarily mean that all possible scenarios have been tested, as it only ensures that each line of code has been executed. It does not account for the different possible outcomes of decision points or conditions within the code. Therefore, while statement coverage is a fundamental measure of test completeness, it should be complemented with other coverage metrics like decision coverage and condition coverage for a thorough assessment of the test suite's effectiveness in exploring the software's behavior.