Test Condition
A test condition is a testable aspect or feature of a system that can be verified by one or more test cases.
“A testable aspect of a component or system identified as a basis for testing.”
(Definition reproduced from the ISTQB Glossary. Copyright belongs to ISTQB.)
View the complete ISTQB GlossaryWhat is Test Condition?
Test conditions are identified during test analysis and represent items that require testing based on requirements, risks, or other test bases.
Derived from the test basis: Based on requirements or risks.
Foundation for test design: Leads to creation of test cases.
Scope definition: Identifies what needs to be verified.
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. Test condition 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 Test condition makes hidden rule combinations visible before customers start cancelling trips.
Practice Questions
Question 1
Which statement BEST describes Test condition in the context of ISTQB terminology?
Question 2
A tester needs to explain Test condition to a non‑technical stakeholder. Which approach is MOST appropriate?
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