What is Sarcode? Definition, Purpose, and Examples

Sarcode is a term used in the context of software development and testing. It refers to a set of test data that is specifically designed to exercise the boundaries and limits of a software system or application. The purpose of sarcode is to identify potential issues and vulnerabilities in the system, such as boundary errors, null pointer exceptions, and other types of runtime failures.

Sarcode is typically created by intentionally providing invalid or unexpected input to the system and observing its behavior. This can involve supplying data that is outside the expected range of values, or that violates certain assumptions made by the system. By testing the system with sarcode, developers and testers can gain a better understanding of how it will behave under adverse conditions and identify potential weaknesses that need to be addressed.

The term "sarcode" is derived from the words "sar" (short for "sensitivity analysis") and "code," and was coined by software engineer and security expert, Jim Manico. It has since become a widely-used term in the software development and testing communities.