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Testing & QA

Mutation Testing

/mjuːˈteɪʃən ˈtestɪŋ/

Definition

A technique that introduces small code changes (mutations) to verify tests catch the error — measures test quality, not coverage.

Example in context

"Mutation score: 72% of code changes are caught by tests — coverage was 85% but many tests weren't meaningful."

Related terms

  • Test coverage — The percentage of code lines, branches, or paths executed by automated tests.

Practice this term

Master Mutation Testing in context by working through exercises in the Testing & QA module. You'll see the term used in real engineering scenarios with multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and matching drills.

Practice in exercises → Browse all words

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Mutation Testing" mean?

A technique that introduces small code changes (mutations) to verify tests catch the error — measures test quality, not coverage.

How do you pronounce "Mutation Testing"?

"Mutation Testing" is pronounced /mjuːˈteɪʃən ˈtestɪŋ/.

Can you use "Mutation Testing" in a sentence?

"Mutation score: 72% of code changes are caught by tests — coverage was 85% but many tests weren't meaningful."