Concept of Mutation Testing and Error Seeding
In this blog, we are going to discuss the difference between the two types of software testing namely, Mutation Testing and Error Seeding. But before getting into the difference between the two, we will briefly know about the two terms, Mutation Testing And Error Seeding in order to proceed our discussion further in detail as to know about the major differences between both of them.
What is Mutation Testing?
A specific kind of software testing known as “Mutation Testing” is carried out by test engineers to create new tests for software and assess the effectiveness of those that already exist by altering the application’s source code in order to eliminate the discrepancies in the source code of the application. It is an effective way of finding undetected defects in the software application which cannot be found using traditional testing techniques. It is also known as defect-based software testing for this reason as well.
What is Error Seeding?
Error seeding is the method of injecting artificially seeded errors into the application’s base code that can be used to figure out the real number of errors which is still there after testing a particular section of the software’s base code using these artificially seeded errors which is injected in the software. This technique aims to identify errors in order to compare the real-to-artificial error ratio. In simple terms, some artificial errors are purposefully put into the software in order to identify real errors.
Differences Between Mutation Testing and Error Seeding
Both mutation testing and error seeding are the part of white-box testing techniques. They both are generally applicable to all levels of Software Testing with the aim to find errors. However, they are different to each other in many ways.
Let’s understand with the help of this table to know about the major differences between mutation testing and error seeding: –
| Mutation Testing | Error Seeding |
|---|---|
| Mutants, which are used to do a minor alteration in the code are employed while performing mutation testing by the test engineers. | On the other side, in the process of error seeding, no such mutants are used by test engineers rather than using artificially seeded errors with the aim to identify real errors in the software application. |
| The mutants themselves are merged and compared for testing in order to identify errors created during the mutation testing. | While in error seeding, the software code is examined internally to identify errors using artificially seeded errors. |
| Mutation testing process is a highly expensive and more time-consuming technique as compared to error seeding process. | In other words, we can say that error seeding is a cost-effective and less time-consuming technique as compared to mutation testing process. |
| The process of mutation testing is recommended for smaller projects or software applications. | On the other hand, the process of error seeding is recommended for larger projects or software applications. However, they both are defect or error-based processes. |
| In mutation testing process, the test cases are employed to eliminate mutants introduced in the software application which is under test. | On the other hand, the test cases are employed to find errors in the process of error seeding. |
Conclusion
Hence, from the above discussion, we can conclude to say, even though both mutation testing and error seeding have their respective differences but they both are both equally important in identifying the defects or errors in the software application and we can’t undermine the value of both these software testing techniques. Implementation of both these techniques is necessary in order to improve the quality of the software application.
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