Description: Branch coverage is a fundamental metric in the realm of software testing, used to assess the effectiveness of automated tests. It focuses on measuring how well the different branches of a source code have been tested, that is, the various paths that a program’s execution can take depending on the logical conditions and decisions present in it. This metric is crucial because it helps identify parts of the code that have not been executed during testing, which can lead to the detection of errors or unexpected behaviors in the software. High branch coverage indicates that many of the possible decisions in the code have been tested, which generally translates to more robust and reliable software. Conversely, low coverage may signal areas of the code that require more attention and testing. Branch coverage is typically expressed as a percentage, and it is considered a best practice in agile software development and the implementation of unit tests, as it promotes higher code quality and facilitates refactoring by providing a solid test foundation that ensures changes do not introduce new errors.
