Foundations of Software Testing: Fundamental Algorithms and Techniques

Test Adequacy Assessment

7.3.4 CONDITIONS FOR DISTINGUISHING A MUTANT

A test case t that distinguishes a mutant M from its parent P must satisfy

the following three conditions labeled as C

1

, C

2

,andC

3

.

1. C

1

: Reachability: Must force the execution of a path from the start

statement of M to the point of the mutated statement.

2. C

2

: State infection: Must cause the state of M and P to differ con-

sequent to some execution of the mutated statement.

3. C

3

: State propagation: Must ensure that the difference in the states

of M and P, created due to the execution of the mutated state-

ment, propagates until after the end of mutant execution.

Thus, a mutant is considered distinguished only when test t satisfies

C

1

∧ C

2

∧C

3

. To be more precise, condition C

1

is necessary ...