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Which debugging method looks at a reverse execution of the program?

  1. Debugging by backtracking

  2. Debugging by deduction

  3. Debugging by testing

  4. Brute-force debugging

The correct answer is: Debugging by backtracking

The method of debugging that examines a reverse execution of the program is known as debugging by backtracking. This approach involves retracing the steps of the program to understand how the current state was reached, allowing developers to identify the specific point where the program deviated from the expected behavior. By reversing the sequence of executed commands or operations, programmers can pinpoint errors more effectively and gain insights into how the program's state changes over time. Backtracking can help to reveal the exact conditions leading to a bug, making it a highly useful technique in situations where the path to the error is not immediately clear. This contrasts with other methods that do not involve reversing the execution flow or might focus solely on testing various inputs and outputs without analyzing the path taken by the program's execution.