Test Generation Using Model Checking and Specification Mutation

Although building quality into software is paramount, professionals find that testing is necessary to assure that the system will operate as desired. Developing tests can take significant resources. In 1998, NIST showed how tests can be automatically generated from models using model checkers and specification mutation. This was an early result in what is now a broad area known as "model-based testing." NIST also modified the same technology to measure the coverage of test suites independent of implementation details. This article is part of a special issue on NIST contributions to IT.