What is test coverage?
Test coverage monitors the number of tests that have been executed. Test cases are written to ensure maximum coverage of requirements outlined in multiple documents — FRS (Functional Requirements Specification), SRS (Software Requirements Specification), URS (User Requirement Specification), etc.
Types of Test Coverage
- Product Coverage
Product coverage answers the question: what parts of the product have been tested? Increased product coverage leads to more features and functions being tested for expected performance standards and reveals what is going wrong at what juncture of the user experience.
Read More — Bug Tracking: A Detailed Guide
- Risk Coverage
Risk coverage evaluates risks that any application will face when being used by real-world users. Once the risks are known, testing can be structured to ensure that potential risks are not translated into actual negative consequences.
Read More: What is risk-based testing in agile?
- Requirements Coverage
Before commencing on developing any website or app, stakeholders draw up a requirements document that covers what the software seeks to provide its users. In other words, which of its customers’ needs is it fulfilling?
Refer to this article on Code Coverage vs. Test Coverage for a detailed exploration of test coverage.
How do you ensure test coverage?
- Strategize
Start with putting together a comprehensive testing strategy that considers all the application’s requirements and the testing methods.
Bear in mind that test coverage, no matter how expansive, can still leave room for some flaws to get through into production. This is why testing in production is just as necessary.
Additionally, set clear goals to work towards.
- Expand Code Coverage
Code coverage is performed to verify the extent to which the code has been executed relative to each software component. It answers the following questions at the unit test level:
- Are there enough tests in the unit test suite?
- Do more tests need to be added?
- Increase Test Automation
Naturally, to ensure that a considerable number of tests are executed within a tight deadline, manual testing alone cannot be depended upon. Automation testing, especially parallel testing, is required to run the requisite tests within days or even hours.
Read More: 10 Test Automation Best Practices to follow
The easiest way to run automated tests is to use a cloud-based testing service that enables Automated Selenium testing on real browsers and devices.
- Maximize Device Coverage
Test on as many device-browser-combinations as possible. Each device model, browser, and OS has multiple versions that need to be taken into account.
Read More: Test on the right mobile devices
Ensuring sufficient test coverage is essential to release software that meets users’ expectations. It establishes a high-quality user experience and keeps QAs from releasing bug-ridden software into the real world.
