Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
D
Daily build:
A development activity where a complete system is compiled and
linked every day (usually overnight), so that a consistent system is available at any
time including all the latest changes.
Data definition:
An executable statement where a variable is assigned a value.
Data-driven testing:
A scripting technique that stores test input and expected
results in a table or spreadsheet, so that a single control script can execute all of the
tests in the table. Data-driven testing is often used to support the application of test
execution tools such as capture/playback tools. See also
keyword-driven testing
.
Data flow:
An abstract representation of the sequence and possible changes of the state
of data objects, where the state of an object is any of: creation, usage, or destruction.
Data flow analysis:
A form of static analysis based on the definition and usage
of variables.
Data flow coverage:
The percentage of definition-use pairs that have been exer-
cised by a test suite.
Data flow testing:
A white box test design technique in which test cases are
designed to execute definition and use pairs of variables.
Data integrity testing:
See
database integrity testing
.
Database integrity testing:
Testing the methods and processes used to access and
manage the data(base), to ensure access methods, processes, and data rules func-
tion as expected and that during access to the database, data is not corrupted or
unexpectedly deleted, updated, or created.
Dead code:
See
unreachable code
.
Debugger:
See
debugging tool
.
Debugging:
The process of finding, analyzing, and removing the causes of failures
in software.
Debugging tool:
A tool used by programmers to reproduce failures, investigate the
state of programs, and find the corresponding defect. Debuggers enable program-
mers to execute programs step by step, to halt a program at any program statement,
and to set and examine program variables.
Decision:
A program point at which the control flow has two or more alternative
routes. A node with two or more links to separate branches.
Decision condition coverage:
The percentage of all condition outcomes and deci-
sion outcomes that have been exercised by a test suite. 100% decision condition
coverage implies both 100% condition coverage and 100% decision coverage.
Decision condition testing:
A white box test design technique in which test cases
are designed to execute condition outcomes and decision outcomes.
Decision coverage:
The percentage of decision outcomes that have been exercised
by a test suite. 100% decision coverage implies both 100% branch coverage and
100% statement coverage.
