Chapter 4 – Test Analysis & Design
Valid Partition – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
An input or output partition covering values that should be accepted by the test object.
In simple words
A group of good inputs the system is supposed to accept — the happy-path partition.
Exam tip
You must cover every valid partition at least once for 100% equivalence-partition coverage.
Related terms
- Invalid PartitionA group of bad inputs the system is supposed to reject with an error — the negative-testing partition.
- 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.
- Input PartitionA group of inputs the system should treat the same way — pick one representative to test the whole group.
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