Chapter 4 – Test Analysis & Design
Decision Table – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
A table used to represent complex logical conditions and their associated actions. Each column represents a unique combination of conditions and the resulting actions.
In simple words
A grid where each column is a rule: which conditions are true and what the system should do about it.
Exam tip
Decision tables are the go-to technique when business rules combine several conditions with AND/OR.
Related terms
- Decision Table TestingWhen behaviour depends on combinations of conditions (like discount rules), you list every condition and expected action in a table and turn each column into a test case.
- Cause-Effect GraphA diagram linking each input condition to the outputs it triggers — used to generate a decision table.
- Business RuleA policy from the business (e.g. 'orders over $500 need approval') that the software must enforce.
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