Decision Table Testing
Decision table testing is a black-box test technique that derives test cases from combinations of conditions and their corresponding actions.
“A black-box test technique in which test cases are designed to exercise the combinations of conditions and the resulting actions shown in a decision table.”
(Definition reproduced from the ISTQB Glossary. Copyright belongs to ISTQB.)
View the complete ISTQB GlossaryWhat is Decision Table Testing?
Decision tables organize business rules into conditions and actions, helping testers design complete and systematic test cases for complex logic.
Business rules: Complex combinations are represented in a structured table.
Complete coverage: Every meaningful rule becomes a potential test case.
Efficiency: Helps identify missing or inconsistent business requirements.
Visual Example
Decision Table (condensed)
| Condition | Rule 1 | Rule 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Input valid | T | F |
| Output | Proceed | Reject |
Real World Example
A travel platform is changing its refund policy for cancelled flights, with different outcomes depending on ticket type, cancellation time, loyalty status, and airline disruption reason.
No single happy-path test can cover the combinations. Decision table testing helps the tester see which conditions must be varied together and which outcomes should result.
The tester maps the policy into compact rules, removes impossible combinations, and designs cases that prove each meaningful refund decision is handled correctly.
The team avoids contradictory refund behavior because Decision table testing makes hidden rule combinations visible before customers start cancelling trips.
Practice Questions
Question 1
Which statement BEST describes Decision table testing in the context of ISTQB terminology?
Question 2
A tester needs to explain Decision table testing to a non‑technical stakeholder. Which approach is MOST appropriate?
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