Chapter 4 – Test Analysis & Design
Code Coverage – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
An analysis method that determines which parts of the software have been executed by the test suite and which parts have not been executed.
In simple words
The percentage of code your tests actually run — measured at statement, branch or condition level.
Exam tip
Coverage is a floor, not a ceiling: high coverage does not mean high test quality.
Related terms
- Statement CoverageExecuted statements ÷ total statements × 100. A basic code-coverage metric.
- Branch CoverageExecuted branches ÷ total branches × 100 — covers both true and false outcomes of each decision.
- White-Box TestingYou design tests using knowledge of the code — branches, statements, paths — to hit specific structural coverage targets.
Practice this term in the ISTQB Mock Test
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