Software Quality Assurance Practice Exam

Which statement about exhaustive path testing is true?

1. It detects the absence of necessary paths within a program if found missing.

2. It ensures complete coverage of all possible inputs.

3. It primarily focuses on user interface testing.

4. It is always superior to exhaustive input testing.

The correct answer is: It detects the absence of necessary paths within a program if found missing.

Exhaustive path testing is a testing technique that aims to validate all possible execution paths in a program. By focusing on the control flow of the application, it identifies paths that are critical to ensuring correct operation. When a path is found to be missing or untested, this indicates a potential flaw or gap in the program that could lead to undetected errors. This makes the detection of absent necessary paths an integral part of the exhaustive path testing process, as it highlights areas where the program may not function as intended. The other statements do not accurately reflect the nature of exhaustive path testing. The method does not guarantee complete coverage of all possible inputs; rather, it aims to explore the paths taken based on the current input set. Additionally, it is not exclusively focused on user interface testing, as it primarily examines logical and conditional flows in the program's code. Lastly, while exhaustive path testing is a thorough approach, it may not always be superior to exhaustive input testing in all scenarios, as each method has its specific use cases depending on the complexity and nature of the software being tested.