Question

what must a programmer use to test a program? a. all possible sets of legitimate inputs b. all possible sets of inputs c. a single set of legitimate inputs d. a reasonable set of legitimate inputs

Answer 1

A programmer typically tests a program using a reasonable set of legitimate inputs, which includes different data types, boundary values, and likely scenarios to ensure comprehensive coverage without trying to test every possible input.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a programmer is testing a program, it is impractical to test with all possible sets of inputs due to the sheer number and complexity of input combinations, especially for non-trivial programs. Therefore, option (d) a reasonable set of legitimate inputs is typically used. This includes edge cases, typical cases, and error cases that are likely to occur. Test cases should cover a wide range of inputs, including different data types, boundary values, and scenarios that the program is expected to handle. This approach aims to ensure the program runs correctly under various conditions without the impossible task of testing every imaginable input.

Answer 2

A programmer should use a reasonable set of legitimate inputs to test a program, covering edge cases, common cases, and invalid inputs to validate correct behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

To test a program effectively, a programmer should use d. a reasonable set of legitimate inputs. While it might be ideal to test with all possible sets of inputs, it is often impractical or impossible due to the sheer number of possible input combinations, especially for complex programs. Instead, programmers should focus on a representative sample of inputs that includes edge cases, common cases, and invalid inputs to ensure that the program handles a variety of inputs correctly and robustly.

Good testing practices involve unit tests, which test individual components or functions, integration tests, which ensure that these components work together as expected, and system tests, which evaluate the program's overall behavior. Automated testing frameworks can also be used to regularly run a suite of tests as the program is developed.