unit-testingtestingsoftware-qualitywhite-box-testing

Difference between control flow testing and basis path testing


We are studying various testing techniques in Software Quality Assurance course and i got confused when came across "basis path testing" and "control flow testing". Both these techniques apparently look same even their steps are also almost same but i need to find some concrete difference among them. I am unable to differentiate them. Any help in this regard would be appreciated.


Solution

  • Basis Path testing just ensures the coverage of all the paths in the program but control flow testing test the conditions as well.

    So for a simple example, if there is a decision node in the program as:

    if( x >= 2 )

    Here, in this case there would be two paths:

    1. x >= 2
    2. x < 2

    But in control flow there would be three combinations, as following:

    1. x > 2
    2. x = 2
    3. x < 2

    It was a very basic example, I hope that helps.