What is mutation testing and why is it important?

What is mutation testing and why is it important?

Mutation testing is a technique used to evaluate the quality of software tests. It involves making small changes (mutations) to the code and checking if the existing tests can detect these changes. If the tests fail, it indicates that they are effective; if they pass, it suggests that the tests may need improvement.

How does mutation testing differ from traditional testing methods?

Unlike traditional testing methods that focus on executing the code and checking outputs, mutation testing specifically assesses the ability of tests to catch faults. It creates a more rigorous evaluation by introducing intentional errors and measuring test effectiveness.

Can you give me an example of a mutation?

Sure! For instance, if you have a line of code that adds two numbers, a mutation might change the addition operator to a subtraction operator. The goal is to see if your tests can catch this change.

What tools are available for mutation testing?

There are several tools for mutation testing, such as PIT for Java, MutPy for Python, and Stryker for JavaScript. These tools automate the process of creating mutations and running tests.