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Introduction & Overview
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Quick Overview
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Decision Tables are essential tools in software testing, enabling testers to clearly define and analyze complex business rules. This section outlines the components of Decision Tables and their importance in deriving systematic test cases while ensuring that all potential conditions and corresponding actions are thoroughly documented.
Detailed
Components of a Decision Table
In software testing, particularly when dealing with complex business rules, Decision Tables provide a structured representation of conditions and actions, helping testers ensure comprehensive test coverage. This section breaks down the key components and processes involved in creating effective Decision Tables.
Understanding Decision Tables
Decision Tables are used to clarify requirements surrounding intricate rules that dictate system behavior, defined through combinations of conditions. They consist of:
1. Conditions (Top Left Quadrant): These are input criteria influencing the system's behavior. Each condition poses a question or criterion.
2. Condition Entries/Rules (Top Right Quadrant): These define combinations of truth values (True 'T', False 'F', or
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Conditions
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Conditions (Top Left Quadrant):
These are the inputs, states, or situations that influence the system's behavior. Each condition is a specific question or criterion.
Example: "Is customer a VIP?", "Order total is greater than $100".
Detailed Explanation
Conditions are a critical part of a decision table, representing the various factors that can affect the outcome of the decision-making process. They are characterized as specific questions or statements that can be evaluated to either true or false. In a decision table, these conditions are typically found in the top-left area, where each condition corresponds to a relevant aspect of the system that needs to be assessed.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine youβre deciding what to wear based on the weather. Conditions would be: 'Is it raining?', 'Is it cold?', and 'Is it sunny?'. Each of these questions influences what you ultimately choose to wear.
Condition Entries / Rules
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Condition Entries / Rules (Top Right Quadrant):
These define the different combinations of truth values (True 'T', False 'F', or "Don't Care" '-') for each condition. Each vertical column represents a unique "rule" or scenario.
Example: If a condition can be "Yes" or "No", and there are 3 conditions, there could be up to 2^3 = 8 possible rules.
Detailed Explanation
The condition entries specify the truth values for each condition in the decision table. Each column in the top-right quadrant represents a distinct rule, combining the various conditions together to outline specific scenarios. For example, if there are 3 conditions that can each be true or false, this results in 2^3, which equals 8 unique combinations of conditions, providing a comprehensive approach to testing the system's behavior under different scenarios.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a decision tree for deciding whether to go for a walk. You might have conditions like 'Is it sunny?', 'Do I have free time?', and 'Do I have an umbrella?'. Each combination of answers can result in a different decision; for example, if it's sunny and I have free time but no umbrella, I will definitely go for a walk.
Actions
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Actions (Bottom Left Quadrant):
These are the outcomes, outputs, or processes that the system should perform based on the conditions being met.
Example: "Apply 10% Discount", "Issue Free Shipping", "Send Error Message".
Detailed Explanation
Actions specify what will happen as a result of the evaluation of the conditions. In the bottom-left area of the decision table, the actions are outlined as the responses or outcomes that follow from the conditions being true or false. This gives testers a clear understanding of what to expect from the system based on the various scenarios defined in the condition entries.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a restaurant menu where different dish combinations lead to different selections. If a customer chooses 'Yes' for vegetarian, 'Yes' for spicy, they may be served a specific 'spicy vegetable risotto'. The actions clearly reflect the outcomes based on the combination of choices.
Action Entries
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Action Entries (Bottom Right Quadrant):
These indicate which actions are taken (typically marked with an 'X' or a checkmark 'β') for each specific rule (column) defined by the condition entries.
Detailed Explanation
The action entries are where the specific actions associated with each rule are documented. Each column in the bottom right quadrant corresponds to a rule from the condition entries, and it indicates which actions should be executed by marking them with a symbol, such as an 'X' or 'β'. This allows for a quick visual reference to see what actions arise from each unique set of conditions.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a control panel for an automated coffee machine. Each button press (the rules) indicates different coffee outputs (the actions). If you press 'Espresso' and 'Large Cup', the action entry for this combination ensures the machine knows to brew a large espresso for that selection.