5.4 - Decision Table Testing

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Overview of Decision Table Testing

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Teacher
Teacher

Today, we are going to discuss Decision Table Testing. Can anyone tell me what they think it means?

Student 1
Student 1

Is it about making decisions based on different inputs?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Decision Table Testing helps us handle complex rules by using a table format to define conditions and associated actions. It's particularly useful when we have multiple conditions leading to various outcomes.

Student 2
Student 2

So, it combines inputs and outcomes all together?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes, each row in the decision table represents a unique combination of inputs and the corresponding expected outcome. For instance, in a loan approval scenario, we could have conditions like income and credit score leading to different actions.

Student 3
Student 3

Can you give us an example?

Teacher
Teacher

Sure! Imagine we check both income and credit score to decide if a loan is approved. If income is greater than 30K and the score is above 700, we approve the loan!

Student 4
Student 4

So what happens if the income is low but the credit score is high?

Teacher
Teacher

Good question! In that case, we might decide to review the application instead of outright approval.

Teacher
Teacher

To recap, Decision Table Testing uses a structured approach to manage complex rules, ensuring we don't miss any potential combinations!

Constructing a Decision Table

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Teacher
Teacher

Now that we understand what Decision Table Testing is, let’s explore how to construct a decision table. What do you think should be the first step?

Student 1
Student 1

We need to identify the conditions, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Absolutely! Identifying the key conditions is crucial. These are the criteria that will affect the decision-making process.

Student 2
Student 2

And then we’ll determine what actions correspond to those conditions?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! You’ll list possible actions for each combination of the identified conditions. This forms the basis of your decision table.

Student 3
Student 3

How do we deal with multiple conditions?

Teacher
Teacher

Excellent point! Multiple conditions require us to consider every combination. For example, if we have income and credit score as conditions, every possible pair will form a distinct entry in our table.

Student 4
Student 4

Can you summarize the process for us?

Teacher
Teacher

Certainly! 1. Identify the conditions, 2. Determine outcomes for each combination, and 3. Document them in a table format ensuring clarity and completeness.

Real-world Applications

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Teacher
Teacher

Let’s discuss some real-world applications of Decision Table Testing. Can anyone suggest an area where this method might be useful?

Student 1
Student 1

How about online shopping? Pricing rules based on user status?

Teacher
Teacher

Great example! Pricing models often depend on various factors like membership level, season, or promotional events, making a decision table ideal.

Student 2
Student 2

What about insurance applications? They often consider multiple factors.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Insurance companies use decision tables to decide policy rates based on age, location, health, and other criteria.

Student 3
Student 3

This sounds like a very organized way to test decisions!

Teacher
Teacher

It is! Decision tables allow you to visualize complex rule sets, ensuring full coverage in your tests.

Student 4
Student 4

Can you recap why Decision Table Testing is important?

Teacher
Teacher

Sure! Decision Table Testing organizes complex conditions and actions efficiently, ensuring that we cover all logical pathways in our testing process.

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

Decision Table Testing is a method for handling complex business rules involving multiple conditions and decision-based outputs.

Standard

This section explores Decision Table Testing, a structured approach to ensuring coverage for various combinations of conditions and actions in test scenarios. It explains its definition, where to use it, and provides a practical example to illustrate the concept's significance.

Detailed

Decision Table Testing

Decision Table Testing is a tabular method designed to systematically handle complex business rules, which often involve multiple conditions that lead to decision-based outcomes. This technique is particularly useful in scenarios where there are numerous combinations of input conditions that dictate different actions or results.

Key Points:

  • Definition: A decision table is a tabular representation of conditions and actions which outlines the various possible combinations of inputs and the corresponding expected outputs.
  • Where to Use: This method is beneficial when assessing rules that involve multiple variable conditions and a variety of outcomes, such as eligibility checks or pricing models.
  • Example Scenario:
  • Loan Approval Scenario: If a loan approval is based on income and credit score, a decision table can encompass conditions like:
    • Income > 30K and Score > 700 then Approve.
    • Income > 30K and Score ≤ 700 then Review.
    • Income ≤ 30K and Score > 700 then Review.
    • Income ≤ 30K and Score ≤ 700 then Reject.

Each row in the table captures a unique combination of the various input parameters and the desired outcome, thereby ensuring a comprehensive test coverage of all possible decision-making scenarios.

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Definition of Decision Table Testing

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🔹 Definition: A tabular method to handle complex business rules involving combinations of conditions and actions.

Detailed Explanation

Decision Table Testing is a structured testing technique used to evaluate how software responds to combinations of different inputs or conditions. It uses a table format to represent these conditions clearly. Each row in the table corresponds to a unique scenario with specific conditions and the corresponding actions that the system should take.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a decision table as a menu at a restaurant. Each dish can be made with various ingredients (conditions) and the final dish presented (action) depends on the combinations of these ingredients. For instance, if you're ordering a sandwich, the possible ingredients could be bread type, meat choice, and toppings. The menu (decision table) lets you see how different combinations will result in a unique sandwich (outcome).

Where to Use Decision Table Testing

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🔹 Where to Use: When there are multiple conditions and decision-based outputs (e.g., eligibility, pricing)

Detailed Explanation

Decision Table Testing is particularly useful in situations where systems need to react differently based on various conditions. This could include decisions like whether a loan should be approved based on income and credit score, or what discounts to apply based on customer status and purchase amount. The clarity of the table helps testers ensure that all scenarios are considered, including edge cases.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a traffic light system. The states of the lights (red, yellow, green) depend on various conditions such as time of day (morning/evening) and traffic levels (heavy/light). A decision table can be used to map out how the light changes under different conditions, helping to ensure that drivers receive the appropriate signals.

Example of Decision Table Testing

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🔹 Example: Scenario: Loan Approval
Condition: Credit | Action
Income > 30K | Score > 700 | Yes | Yes | Approve Loan
Yes | No | Review
No | Yes | Review
No | No | Reject Loan

Detailed Explanation

In this example, we are considering a loan approval decision process. The table specifies two conditions: income and credit score. Depending on the values of these conditions, the action taken (approval, review, or rejection) differs. The organization of this information into a decision table allows for clear visibility of outcomes based on different combinations of input.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a sports team selection process. The coach might look at players' health and performance level (conditions). Depending on whether a player is fit and performing well, a decision is made: starting in the next game, being put on the bench, or not being selected. A decision table could clearly outline these combinations and resulting selections.

Understanding Rows in Decision Tables

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📌 Each row in the table represents a unique combination of inputs and outcomes.

Detailed Explanation

In a decision table, each row corresponds to a specific scenario constituting a set of input conditions and specifies what action should occur based on those inputs. This representation is significant because it systematically shows the tester how different combinations will affect outcomes, ensuring thorough coverage of possible situations.

Examples & Analogies

Consider a recipe book. Each recipe can be thought of as a row in a decision table. The ingredients (inputs) determine the dish (outcome). Changing one ingredient, such as substituting garlic for onion, leads to a different flavor (action). Understanding which combinations result in which dishes helps cooks achieve the desired results.

Definitions & Key Concepts

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Key Concepts

  • Decision Table: A structured approach for testing, representing rules in a tabular format.

  • Condition: Criteria that affect the outcome of decisions in a testing scenario.

  • Action: The result determined from evaluating the conditions in a Decision Table.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

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Examples

  • Loan Approval Decision Table: A structure detailing how income and credit scores translate into loan approval or rejection.

  • Pricing Strategy Decisions in Online Shopping: Leveraging different conditions like membership status and seasonal discount offers.

Memory Aids

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🎵 Rhymes Time

  • When your tests are complex and tough, decision tables can make it less rough.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a loan officer who uses a table to decide quickly whether to approve a loan, based on income and credit score. Each combination leads to action like 'approve', 'review', or 'reject'.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • C-A: Condition leads to Action in Decision Tables.

🎯 Super Acronyms

DECISION

  • Decomposing Every Condition In Structured Input Outcomes Notation.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

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  • Term: Decision Table

    Definition:

    A tabular representation of conditions, actions, and outcomes used in testing complex business rules.

  • Term: Condition

    Definition:

    A requirement or parameter that affects the outcome of a rule in a decision table.

  • Term: Action

    Definition:

    The result or outcome that follows the evaluation of conditions within a decision table.