Metamorphic Relation Template v1.0 : Technical Report ISA-17-TR-01

Abstract

Metamorphic testing enables the generation of test cases in the absence of an oracle by exploiting relations among different executions of the program under test, called metamorphic relations. In a recent survey, we observed a great variability in the way metamorphic relations are described, typically in an informal manner using natural language. We noticed that the lack of a standard mechanism to describe metamorphic relations often makes them hard to read and understand, which hinders the widespread adoption of the technique. To address this shortcoming, we have proposed a template for the description of metamorphic relations, which aims to ease communication among practitioners as well as contributing to research dissemination. Also, it provides a helpful guide for those approaching metamorphic testing for the first time. This technical report describes the proposed template, records its evolution through its different versions and shows several examples of use.