Branch coverage is a software testing metric that measures whether each possible branch in a program's control flow has been executed. This includes evaluating all decision points, such as if statements and switch cases, to ensure that both true and false outcomes are tested. Achieving high branch coverage helps identify untested paths in the code, which can lead to undetected bugs. To calculate branch coverage, testers divide the number of executed branches by the total number of branches in the code. A higher percentage indicates better coverage, which contributes to more reliable and robust software. This practice is essential in ensuring that all logical paths are verified during testing.