Inspection
An inspection is a formal review technique in which trained participants systematically examine a work product to identify defects before execution.
“A type of formal review that uses defined team roles and measurement to identify defects in a work product, and improve the review process and the software development process.”
(Definition reproduced from the ISTQB Glossary. Copyright belongs to ISTQB.)
View the complete ISTQB GlossaryWhat is Inspection?
Inspections follow a structured process with defined roles, preparation, meetings, and documented results to maximize defect detection.
Formal process: Roles such as moderator, author, and reviewers are assigned.
Preparation: Participants review the work product before the meeting.
Defect focus: The objective is to identify defects rather than solve them during the review.
Real World Example
A regulated product team is preparing a release where Inspection appears in reviews, test design conversations, or defect triage rather than as an isolated glossary word.
The risk is that the team treats Inspection 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 Inspection and similar ideas.
The page becomes useful in practice because Inspection is connected to a specific testing decision, not memorized as a detached definition.
Practice Questions
Question 1
Which statement BEST describes Inspection in the context of ISTQB terminology?
Question 2
A tester needs to explain Inspection to a non‑technical stakeholder. Which approach is MOST appropriate?
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