1 Introduction

Like never before, everyday life has become dependent on software and software-based systems. Most of today’s appliances, machines, and devices are completely or at least partly controlled by software. Administrative proceedings in state agencies and industry, too, rely to a large extent on highly complex IT systems. Examples are the management of insurance policies, inventory control systems, biometric characteristics in passports and ID cards, and the electronic health chip card.

High dependency on software

This strong dependency on software requires ever higher investments in quality assurance activities to enable IT systems to perform reliably. Software testing is developing toward a specialized, independent field of study and professional discipline within the computer sciences.