path coverage. A measure of how many execution paths have been executed. The
number of possible paths is often ???infinite,??? so full path coverage is rarely feasible.
Contrast to transition coverage.
placeholder. An action argument which matches any value when matching actions
during composition.
postman tour. An algorithm used in offline testing, which generates a test suite
from an FSM by traversal. The postman tour produces a test suite that has minimal
transition coverage. Also called the Chinese postman tour.
precondition. Enabling condition.
predicate. A Boolean expression or method that has no side effects.
preliminary analysis. Preparation for writing a model program, including selecting
the features to include, choosing the level of abstraction, identifying the state and
actions, and writing some sample traces.
probe. An action that checks the state, usually for purposes of testing. A probe does
not change the state; the resulting transition is a self-loop.
product. The model program that results from the composition of two or more
model programs.
progress. Closer approach to a goal, such as an accepting state. A program that
does not make progress experiences a liveness failure.
326 Glossary
protocol. An agreement about how two or more agents work together. A protocol
is defined by rules for forming messages and rules that constrain the ordering of the
messages.
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