Test Log
A test log is a chronological record of testing activities, events, observations, and execution results collected during testing.
“A chronological record of relevant details about the execution of tests.”
(Definition reproduced from the ISTQB Glossary. Copyright belongs to ISTQB.)
View the complete ISTQB GlossaryWhat is Test Log?
Test logs provide traceability, support defect investigation, and document what occurred during test execution.
Execution record: Captures test activities over time.
Traceability: Supports analysis and auditing.
Evidence: Documents execution outcomes and observations.
Real World Example
A regulated product team is preparing a release where Test log appears in reviews, test design conversations, or defect triage rather than as an isolated glossary word.
The risk is that the team treats Test log 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 Test log and similar ideas.
The page becomes useful in practice because Test log is connected to a specific testing decision, not memorized as a detached definition.
Practice Questions
Question 1
Which statement BEST describes Test log in the context of ISTQB terminology?
Question 2
A tester needs to explain Test log to a non‑technical stakeholder. Which approach is MOST appropriate?
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