Decision Table Testing
Decision table testing is a systematic and structured way of representing complex business rules and logic. It helps in ensuring that all possible combinations of conditions and actions are tested. This technique is particularly useful for validating software that has multiple conditions that can influence outcomes.
Key Components of a Decision Table
Conditions: These are the various inputs or scenarios that affect the decision.
Actions: These are the possible outcomes or responses based on the conditions.
Rules: These define which action is taken for each combination of conditions.
Steps to Create a Decision Table:
Identify Conditions and Actions: Determine all possible conditions and actions for the decision process.
Create a Table and List Combinations: Fill in the table with all possible combinations of conditions and their corresponding actions.
Simplify the Table: Combine similar rules to simplify the decision table if possible.
Example of Decision Table Testing:
Consider a simplified scenario of a loan approval system with the following conditions and actions:
Conditions:
Applicant is employed (Y/N)
Applicant has good credit score (Y/N)
Applicant has existing loans (Y/N)
Actions:
Approve loan
Deny loan
Request more information
In this example, each rule represents a unique combination of conditions leading to a specific action.
Benefits of Decision Table Testing:
Comprehensive Coverage: Ensures all possible combinations of conditions are tested.
Clarity: Provides a clear and structured way to document complex decision logic.
Efficiency: Helps identify redundant or missing test cases quickly.
When to Use Decision Table Testing:
When the software has complex business rules.
When different combinations of inputs produce different outcomes.
When it's crucial to ensure every possible scenario is covered.