VCE Software Development U3O1 Definitions Worksheet: Errors and debugging and Testing modules (Modules 168–177)
Name:
Date:
Class:
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Key terms
Write what each term means, in your own words.
1
print(variable)
2
breakpoint
3
step through
4
nested loop
5
normal, boundary and invalid data
6
Boundary values
7
test data
8
test case
9
assert
Answer Key
VCE Software Development U3O1 · Modules 168–177 · Student wording will vary for definitions
1print(variable) — Debugging tool: print a variable at key points, then compare each value with your trace table of what it should be. The first mismatch shows where the bug is.
2breakpoint — A marker set on a line of code (click beside the line number) that pauses the program there in debug mode, so you can inspect variables and step through the code.
3step through — Run paused code one line at a time using step over, step into or step out, while the watch panel shows each variable change, to find where a value goes wrong.
4nested loop — A loop inside another loop. When tracing, the inner loop completes all its repeats for each single repeat of the outer loop, so total passes = outer repeats x inner repeats.
5normal, boundary and invalid data — A good test set uses normal data (typical values), boundary data (values at the edges of a range) and invalid data (values that should be rejected), so every path in an algorithm is checked.
6Boundary values — Test inputs at the edge of a condition. For age >= 18, test 17 (just below), 18 (exactly on) and 19 (just above) to check the algorithm picks the right path at the edge.
7test data — Values chosen to test each validation rule: empty for existence, text for type, and values just inside and just outside range limits, each with an expected result.
8test case — A chosen input paired with the output you expect. Run the algorithm, record the actual output, then compare: if actual matches expected it passes, otherwise it fails.
9assert — Checks a condition is True, like assert add(2, 3) == 5. If the result is not what you expected, it raises an AssertionError, so test cases can run automatically.