What is code coverage and why is it measured?

Code coverage is a metric used in software testing to measure the extent to which the source code of a program has been executed during testing. It determines the percentage of code that has been covered by the test cases. Code coverage is measured to assess the effectiveness and thoroughness of the testing process.

The main purpose of measuring code coverage is to identify areas of the code that have not been tested adequately. It helps in identifying potential bugs, vulnerabilities, and areas of the code that may need further testing. By measuring code coverage, developers and testers can gain insights into the quality of their tests and make informed decisions about where to focus their testing efforts.

Code coverage can be measured at different levels, such as statement coverage, branch coverage, and path coverage. Statement coverage measures the percentage of statements that have been executed, branch coverage measures the percentage of decision points that have been taken, and path coverage measures the percentage of possible paths that have been traversed.

Measuring code coverage provides a quantitative measure of the testing process, allowing developers and testers to assess the completeness of their tests. It helps in identifying areas of the code that are prone to errors and aids in improving the overall quality of the software. Additionally, code coverage can also be used as a benchmark to compare different test suites or to track the progress of testing over time.

In conclusion, code coverage is a crucial aspect of software testing as it helps in identifying untested code and improving the overall quality of the software. It provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of the testing process and aids in making informed decisions about where to focus testing efforts.