2 Why We Need Model-Based Testing

Appendices 325
oracle. The authority which provides the correct result for a test case, used to judge
whether the test passed or failed. Amodel program can act as an oracle.
pair. A data record with two elements in order. A set of pairs represents a binary
relation. The pair data type in the NModel library is a value type.
parameter generation. Specifying domains and selecting parameter values from
those domains during exploration. Parameter generation is an aspect of scenario
control.
partial order. A relation where some, but not all, pairs of elements occur in order.
Partial orders arise in concurrent systems where it is not always possible to know
whether an event in one program precedes or follows an event in another. Partial
order must be considered in multiplexing.
partially explored. Astate where an unexplored action is enabled.
pass. Ofatest case, to not fail.
passive state. Astate in which all enabled actions are observable.
passive testing. A special case of on-the-fly testing where all the actions are observable.
For example, passive testing could be used to check a log file for conformance.
path coverage. A measure of how many execution paths have been executed. The
number of possible paths is often “infinite,” so full path coverage is rarely feasible.
Contrast to transition coverage.
placeholder.Anaction argument which matches any value when matching actions
during composition.
postman tour. An algorithm used in offline testing, which generates a test suite
from an FSM by traversal. The postman tour produces a test suite that has minimal
transition coverage. Also called the Chinese postman tour.
precondition. Enabling condition.
predicate. A Boolean expression or method that has no side effects.
preliminary analysis. Preparation for writing a model program, including selecting
the features to include, choosing the level of abstraction, identifying the state and
actions, and writing some sample traces.
probe.Anaction that checks the state, usually for purposes of testing. A probe does
not change the state; the resulting transition is a self-loop.
product. The model program that results from the composition of two or more
model programs.
progress. Closer approach to a goal, such as an accepting state. A program that
does not make progress experiences a liveness failure.
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