What is Data flow coverage?

Understanding Data flow coverage

This criteria requires sufficient test cases for each feasible data flow to be executed at least once. Data flow coverage is a testing metric that focuses on the paths that data variables take through a program, tracking how variables are defined, used, and modified. It is more thorough than statement or branch coverage since it examines data relationships. This approach helps identify security vulnerabilities related to data handling. Data flow analysis is recommended in application security standards and testing methodologies like OWASP. Organizations implement data flow coverage through specialized static analysis tools, test case design, and test coverage measurement systems. For example, a financial application development team might perform data flow analysis to verify that sensitive customer information is properly validated, used, and sanitized throughout the application to prevent injection attacks and data leakage. Related terms: Code coverage, Path coverage, Software testing, Static analysis, Taint analysis, Security testing, Data validation.