ModeTest

ModeTest is a methodology used in statistical analysis and software testing to determine the most frequent value within a dataset or a range of values. In statistics, the mode is one of the measures of central tendency, alongside the mean and median. It represents the peak of a distribution and is particularly useful for identifying typical or common values in non-normally distributed data, such as categorical data or data with multiple prominent peaks (multimodal distributions).

In the context of software testing, ModeTest refers to a technique where test cases are designed to cover the most commonly used features or functionalities of a software application. The goal is to ensure that the core aspects of the software, which are expected to be used by the majority of users, are stable and perform as intended. This approach prioritizes testing the "happy path" scenarios and frequently encountered user interactions to maximize the impact of testing efforts. Identifying these common modes of operation often involves analyzing user behavior data, historical usage patterns, or domain expertise. By focusing on these high-frequency scenarios, ModeTest aims to identify and resolve critical defects that could affect a large number of users.