Which of the following accurately describes decision (branch) coverage?

Decision (branch) coverage is a testing criterion in software testing that aims to ensure that each possible branch of a control structure, such as if-else statements, loops, and case statements, is executed at least once during testing. This level of testing evaluates the logical decisions made within the code, verifying that all branches are reachable and function as expected.

By testing each branch, this approach highlights the functionality of the application in various execution paths, potentially exposing errors or untested conditions within those paths. It doesn’t focus solely on user requirements since its main objective is rather technical, centered on the control flow within the code.

Moreover, while decision coverage is important, it is not necessarily sufficient for high integrity applications. High integrity applications often require more comprehensive testing approaches that can address the complexity and severity of potential failures more robustly than branch coverage alone.

Lastly, decision coverage does require careful test case planning to ensure all branches are tested. Simply aiming for branch coverage without a structured approach risks missing crucial paths in the logic.