Chapter 4 – Test Analysis & Design
Specification-Based Testing – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
Testing based on an analysis of the specification of the functionality of a component or system. Synonym: black-box testing.
In simple words
Design tests only from what the system is supposed to do (spec, story, requirement) — not from the code.
Exam tip
Specification-based == black-box in ISTQB v4.0 terminology.
Related terms
- Black-Box TestingYou design tests only from the spec or behaviour — inputs and expected outputs — without looking at the code.
- Equivalence PartitioningGroup inputs that the system should treat identically, then pick one value from each group. That way you cover behaviour without testing every possible value.
- 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.
Practice this term in the ISTQB Mock Test
40 CTFL v4.0 questions, 60-minute timer, instant scoring and chapter-wise breakdown.
Practice in Mock Test