Decision Table Testing: Complex Business Logic Validation

Introduction to Decision Table Testing

Decision Table Testing is a systematic approach to testing complex business logic with multiple conditions and actions. This comprehensive guide explores decision table design, implementation, and best practices.

Decision Table Components

Decision tables consist of:

• Conditions: Input conditions or rules
• Actions: Expected outputs or actions
• Rules: Combinations of conditions and actions
• Test Cases: Derived from table rules

Decision Table Implementation

// Decision Table Implementation
class DecisionTable {
    constructor(conditions, actions, rules) {
        this.conditions = conditions;
        this.actions = actions;
        this.rules = rules;
        this.testCases = this.generateTestCases();
    }

    generateTestCases() {
        const testCases = [];
        
        for (let i = 0; i < this.rules.length; i++) {
            const rule = this.rules[i];
            const testCase = {
                id: `DT-${i + 1}`,
                description: `Decision Table Rule ${i + 1}`,
                conditions: this.mapConditions(rule.conditions),
                expectedActions: this.mapActions(rule.actions),
                testSteps: this.generateTestSteps(rule)
            };
            
            testCases.push(testCase);
        }
        
        return testCases;
    }

    mapConditions(ruleConditions) {
        const mappedConditions = {};
        
        for (let i = 0; i < this.conditions.length; i++) {
            mappedConditions[this.conditions[i].name] = ruleConditions[i];
        }
        
        return mappedConditions;
    }

    mapActions(ruleActions) {
        const mappedActions = {};
        
        for (let i = 0; i < this.actions.length; i++) {
            mappedActions[this.actions[i].name] = ruleActions[i];
        }
        
        return mappedActions;
    }
}

Decision Table Best Practices

• Complete Coverage: Ensure all condition combinations are covered
• Clear Conditions: Define conditions clearly and unambiguously
• Action Definition: Define actions precisely
• Rule Validation: Validate all rules for consistency

Recommended Bibliography

• "Decision Table Testing Techniques" by various authors
• "Business Logic Testing" by various authors
• "Complex System Testing" by various authors