Detailed Example: Flight Booking Discount Policy
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Introduction to Decision Table Testing
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Welcome, everyone! Today, we'll learn about Decision Table Testing, which is essential for managing complex rules in software like a flight booking system. Can anyone summarize what they understand by the term 'Decision Table'?
I think it's a way to organize different conditions and their outcomes.
Exactly! It helps clarify complex rules by listing all possible combinations of conditions and their corresponding actions. How many quadrants do you think a standard Decision Table has?
I believe it has four quadrants.
Correct! It typically includes conditions, rules, actions, and action entries. This structure helps ensure that all combinations are systematically considered. Let's dive into an example to clarify this!
Creating the Structure of a Decision Table
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Letβs break down our flight booking discount policy. What conditions do we need to consider for determining discounts?
We should look at whether the user is registered, if itβs peak season, and how many seats are being booked.
Exactly! Those three conditions will help us formulate our rules. Can you suggest how we might lay these out in our decision table?
We could list 'Registered User', 'Peak Season', and 'More than 3 Seats' across the top as conditions.
Right again! And then, we would list potential actions like 'Apply Discount' or 'Notify Group Desk' beneath. This structure supports clear reasoning when interpreting each rule.
What happens if we have overlapping conditions?
Great question! Thatβs where the decision table shinesβit helps visualize and clarify those overlaps.
Simplifying Decision Tables
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Now that we've created a decision table, letβs discuss simplification. Why might we want to simplify our decision table?
To make it easier to manage and understand, right?
Exactly! For example, if certain conditions yield the same action, we can combine them to reduce complexity. Can anyone think of an example from our flight booking case?
When the user is registered but not in peak season, they still qualify for some discount.
Good observation! By combining conditions that don't change the outcome, we maintain coverage while reducing table size.
Deriving Test Cases from the Decision Table
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Finally, letβs talk about deriving test cases. From our simplified decision table, how can we formulate actual test cases?
We take each unique rule and define the inputs, right?
Exactly! For instance, from the rule where 'Registered = Y, Peak = Y, Seats > 3', we could expect a 10% discount. What's the benefit of documenting these cases?
It ensures that we verify every scenario and donβt miss any important combinations during testing.
Spot on! This thorough method prevents edge cases from slipping through the cracks. Let's recap what we've learned today.
We covered how to create decision tables, simplify them, and derive test cases.
That's right! Decision Table Testing is crucial for clarity and thorough testing in complex systems.
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
The section discusses the application of Decision Table Testing using the example of a Flight Booking Discount Policy. It highlights how conditions affect outcomes and illustrates the systematic creation of decision tables to ensure all possible combinations of rules are covered, thereby enhancing the reliability of test cases.
Detailed
Detailed Example: Flight Booking Discount Policy
This section delves into the use of Decision Table Testing, a structured approach for handling complex business rules within software testing. With the example of a flight booking discount policy, we illustrate how to properly outline conditions and corresponding actions in a decision table to ensure thorough test coverage of all scenarios.
Key Points:
- Challenge of Handling Complex Rules: Business rules, such as those determining eligibility for discounts in flight bookings, can quickly become convoluted. Properly addressing these through systematic testing ensures that no possible combinations are missed.
- Defining Conditions: The conditions impacting our flight booking example include whether a user is a registered user, whether they are booking during a peak season, and whether they are booking more than three seats.
- Creating Action Outcomes: Actions are the outcomes taken based on the combinations of these conditions. This can include discount percentages and specific notifications.
- Structure of the Decision Table: The decision table clearly lays out all conditions and expected actions in a four-quadrant format, allowing for easy visualization and testing.
- Simplification of the Decision Table: The example further simplifies the initial comprehensive table into a more manageable format without losing the coverage of all necessary combinations.
- Derived Test Cases: From the simplified table, specific test cases can be derived to validate the correct application of business rules.
In summary, the Flight Booking Discount Policy example demonstrates the necessity of structured decision tables for clarifying complex business rules and ensuring no critical test scenarios are neglected.
Key Concepts
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Decision Table: A method to list conditions and their corresponding actions systematically.
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Conditions: The specific inputs influencing the decision-making process.
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Actions: The expected outcomes based on conditions.
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Simplification: The process of merging redundant rules for clarity.
Examples & Applications
A flight booking system allowing discounts based on user registration, season, and seats booked.
The decision table that shows different discount percentages for registered and non-registered users based on their bookings.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
To book a flight with discounts true, Register first, and enjoy your view!
Stories
Imagine Lucy booking her flight. She checks if she's registered and if she flies during peak season with friends. Each condition unlocks a possible discount for her group!
Memory Tools
Remember 'RPS': Registered, Peak, Seats - these are the conditions we meet for discounts!
Acronyms
D.C.A - Decision, Conditions, Actions - the core elements of our decision table.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Decision Table
A structured method to visualize complex business rules and their combinations of conditions and expected actions.
- Conditions
The specific circumstances or inputs that influence decisions in a decision table.
- Actions
The outcomes or processes that result from the different combinations of conditions.
- Test Case
A set of conditions and inputs under which a tester will determine whether an application or system is working correctly.
- Simplification
The process of reducing complexity in a decision table by combining similar conditions and outcomes.
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.