Test-Case Mutation

Abstract

This chapter presents a new testing technique called “test-case mutation.” The idea is to apply a set of specific mutation operators to test cases for object-oriented software, which produces different versions of the original test cases. Then, the results of the original test case and of its corresponding mutants are compared; if they are very similar, the technique highlights the possible presence of a fault in the class under test. The technique seems useful for testing the correctness of strongly constrained classes. The authors have implemented a supporting tool that is also described in the chapter.