Software testing is a significant part of confirming the functionality, reliability, and performance of software products. Out of all the diverse types of tests, Basis Path Testing is one essential technique for confirming the control flow of a program. In this blog, we share the concept of Basis Path Testing, its importance, and how it is applied in software testing.
What is Basis Path Testing?
Basis Path Testing is a white-box testing method that focuses on software control flow. It was formulated by Thomas J. McCabe as a part of the Cyclomatic Complexity metric, which calculates the amount of linearly independent paths in a program’s control flow. The approach is designed to test the software by executing all the independent paths through the program at least once to provide complete coverage of the code.
The goal of Basis Path Testing is to locate all the potential paths within a program and ensure that each of them is tested for possible issues. It helps in determining logical defects that are not obvious through other testing techniques, such as functional or integration testing.
Key Elements of Basis Path Testing
Control Flow Graph: The first step in Basis Path Testing is to design a control flow graph (CFG) for the program. This graph represents the control structure of the program, including decision points, loops, and function calls.
Cyclomatic Complexity: The second step is to compute the cyclomatic complexity of the program, which is the number of independent paths. The metric is calculated as:
V(G) = e – n + 2*P
Where, e is number of edges, n is number of vertices, P is number of connected components.
The cyclomatic complexity provides the minimum number of test cases required to exercise all the independent paths.
Independent Paths: After calculating the cyclomatic complexity, the independent paths in the control flow graph must be determined. These are paths that don’t reuse any other path’s sequence of execution.
Test Case Design: Once independent paths are identified, test cases are created to execute each path such that all aspects of the program’s logic are exercised.
Importance of Basis Path Testing
Basis Path Testing is particularly useful in revealing intricate logical errors that can result due to intricate control flow. By carrying out all independent paths, it ensures that nothing in the program is left untreated, and this reduces the chances of undiscovered defects.
The approach is used widely in unit testing and integration testing, especially for programs with intricate decision structures and loops. It is also a good approach to use in regression testing, where changing the codebase can probably introduce flaws into previously tested paths.
Conclusion
Basis Path Testing is a highly valuable method for thorough testing of software using independent paths through the control flow of a program. By understanding and applying this method, software developers are able to improve the quality of applications, reduce errors, and deliver improved software to end-users.
Personal Reflection
Having studied Basis Path Testing, I can see how this approach is essential to checking the strength of software systems. As a computer science major, what I have learned from my studies is that testing is not just about checking if the code runs but, more importantly, that the logic and correctness of running are checked. Basis Path Testing’s focus on cyclomatic complexity provides a clear, mathematical way to ensure that all possible execution paths are considered.
My experience is that application of this technique detects logical flaws in programs which would otherwise not be easily seen through normal debugging or functional testing.
Citation:
“Basis Path Testing in Software Testing.” GeeksforGeeks, https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/basis-path-testing-in-software-testing/.
Maria Delia 