Chapter 4 – Test Analysis and Design
Test Charter – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
A statement of test objectives, and possibly test ideas about how to test, used primarily in exploratory testing.
In simple words
A short mission for an exploratory session — what to explore, for how long, and with what goal.
Exam tip
Charters keep exploratory testing focused and auditable; they are the main artefact of session-based test management.
Related terms
- Exploratory TestingYou learn the product while testing it, using your experience to decide what to try next instead of following a pre-written script.
- Experience-Based TestingTests come from what you’ve seen break before — error guessing, exploratory testing, checklist-based testing.
- Test PlanThe document that answers ‘what, when, how, and by whom’ for the testing effort — scope, schedule, risks, entry and exit criteria.
Practice this term in the ISTQB Mock Test
40 CTFL v4.0 questions, 60-minute timer, instant scoring and chapter-wise breakdown.
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