What does statement coverage require in software testing?

Statement coverage is a metric used in software testing to ensure that each individual statement in the code is executed at least once during testing. This approach is designed to identify untested parts of the code and ensure that every line of the program has been tested, which helps in detecting errors related to specific lines of code.

By requiring that sufficient test cases be developed to cover each program statement, statement coverage aims to validate that all executable portions of the code are functioning correctly. This can assist developers in identifying issues arising from simple coding errors, such as syntax mistakes or logic flaws in isolated statements.

The focus on executing each statement at least once distinguishes statement coverage from other testing techniques that might require testing entire functions, all code paths, or only critical paths, which may not necessarily validate the execution of every single line of code.