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Branch coverage testing is a methodical type of testing which requires that all program branches or conditional states be tested at least once during a testing process.
Techopedia Explains Branch Coverage Testing
In branch coverage testing, each different outcome from a code module is tested. For example, if the outcomes are binary, developers test both outcomes. Likewise, if there is a code function that tests a range of values, each of those valued outcomes are tested. If a function returns either a yes or a no value, the test must input each of these values and test the result.
By nature, branch coverage testing is different than other broader forms of testing. It represents a rigid conditional requirement that may not be entirely feasible in all cases. Some developers and others that talk about branch coverage testing suggest that a certain percentage of coverage is adequate, while others have noted that developers may work up two or three different testing strategies to ensure that they cover all code module branches – or as many as possible.
As a type of tactical testing, branch coverage testing is more of a metric used to gauge testing outcomes than a testing philosophy or broader-based testing strategy idea.
