What are decision tables used for in testing?

Decision tables are a systematic way of representing complex business rules and conditions that drive decision-making processes. In the context of testing, they are used to map conditions and actions, allowing testers to identify combinations of inputs and the resulting outputs or actions. This is particularly useful in scenarios where multiple conditions could affect a single outcome, as it provides a clear and structured way to anticipate the expected behavior of the system under various input conditions.

By using a decision table, testers can ensure that all possible combinations of conditions are covered in their test cases. This helps to reveal any gaps in testing that might occur when considering only a few conditions at a time. For example, in a system that requires certain inputs to trigger specific outputs, a decision table would clearly lay out each input condition and the associated action, thus enabling thorough testing of all functionality.

Utilizing decision tables enhances the testing process by organizing complex logic in a way that is easy to read and understand, which aids both in test case design and in communicating test scenarios to stakeholders.