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Test criteria and coverage measures for software integration testing

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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to introduce a systematic approach to integration testing of software systems. Various test data selection criteria for integration testing are presented, coverage measures are introduced, and interconnection between them are discussed. The main principle is to transfer and adapt test criteria and coverage measures which are useful for unit testing to the level of integration testing. Test criteria help the tester to organise the test process. They should be chosen in accordance with the available test effort. Test coverage measures are defined as a ratio between the test cases required for satisfying the criteria and those of these which have been executed. The measures are used to obtain information about the completeness of integration tests. The approach is described for data flow and control flow oriented criteria and measures. The intention is to enable the tester to specify integration tests in advance in terms of effort, and to evaluate the results in terms of test completeness.

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Spillner, A. Test criteria and coverage measures for software integration testing. Software Qual J 4, 275–286 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402648

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