Control Flow
Control flow is the sequence in which program statements, decisions, and loops are executed during software operation.
“The sequence in which operations are performed by a business process, component or system.”
(Definition reproduced from the ISTQB Glossary. Copyright belongs to ISTQB.)
View the complete ISTQB GlossaryWhat is Control Flow?
Control flow determines the execution path taken through the source code based on conditions, loops, exceptions, and function calls.
Execution sequence: Statements execute in a defined logical order.
Decision points: Conditional statements create alternative execution paths.
Testing relevance: White-box techniques analyze control flow to improve structural coverage.
Real World Example
A regulated product team is preparing a release where Control flow appears in reviews, test design conversations, or defect triage rather than as an isolated glossary word.
The risk is that the team treats Control flow as interchangeable with nearby ISTQB terms. That makes test scope blurry and can lead to weak evidence for the release decision.
The tester anchors the discussion in the official definition, asks where the concept appears in the product, and designs examples that show the difference between Control flow and similar ideas.
The page becomes useful in practice because Control flow is connected to a specific testing decision, not memorized as a detached definition.
Practice Questions
Question 1
Which statement BEST describes Control flow in the context of ISTQB terminology?
Question 2
A tester needs to explain Control flow to a non‑technical stakeholder. Which approach is MOST appropriate?
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