How is debugging different to testing?

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Question: How is debugging different to testing?

Option a: 'Debugging is searching for errors while testing is fixing errors.' This swaps the typical roles: debugging is indeed about identifying and understanding the cause of errors, but testing is not primarily about fixing errors; testing is the process of evaluating a system to find defects and verify behavior, which can reveal errors that developers then debug. In short, the description in option a misstates the primary purpose of testing.

Option b: 'Testing is searching for errors while debugging is fixing errors.' This statement correctly separates the processes: testing involves probing software to uncover defects, while debugging focuses on diagnosing and correcting those defects once found. The phrasing aligns with common software engineering practice, making this option accurate.

Option c: 'They are exactly the same!' This claim is false because debugging and testing serve different aims and activities. Testing is about finding issues, validating requirements, and exercising the software; debugging is the subsequent step where the root causes are identified and resolved. Treating them as the same would ignore their distinct roles in the development lifecycle.

Option d: 'Debugging creates errors while testing fixes errors.' This is incorrect on several counts: debugging does not create errors as a primary goal; it aims to fix issues discovered. Testing does not inherently fix errors; it may reveal them, but the act of fixing is part of debugging or code repair.

Summary: Evaluating all options shows that only option b accurately captures the conventional distinction between testing (searching for errors) and debugging (fixing errors). The other options invert, equate, or mischaracterize the activities, leading to conceptual errors about these practices.

MUF0051 ICT Unit 1 - Semester 1, 2025 7.14 Quiz: Project stages

How is debugging different to testing?

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