Business Rule Testing
Business Rule Testing is the process of verifying that the application enforces business logic, policies, and rules correctly, as defined by business requirements.
Business rule testing answers: “Does the system behave according to business rules?”
1. Definition
Business Rule Testing is the process of verifying that the application enforces business logic, policies, and rules correctly, as defined by business requirements.
Business rule testing answers: “Does the system behave according to business rules?”
2. Purpose of Business Rule Testing
- Ensure business logic is correctly implemented
- Prevent financial or compliance issues
- Validate decision-making rules
- Align system behavior with business expectations
3. What Are Business Rules
Business rules include:
- Calculations (tax, discount, interest)
- Eligibility criteria
- Approval workflows
- Conditional logic
- Regulatory constraints
4. Manual Tester’s Role
- Understand domain and business logic
- Identify rules and conditions
- Design test cases covering all rule combinations
- Validate outputs against expected business outcomes
5. Techniques Used in Business Rule Testing
- Decision Table Testing
- Boundary Value Analysis
- Equivalence Partitioning
- Scenario-based testing
6. Real-Time Example
Loan approval rules:
- Age ≥ 21
- Income ≥ minimum threshold
- Credit score ≥ defined value
Business rule testing verifies all valid and invalid combinations.
7. Entry & Exit Criteria
Entry Criteria
- Business rules documented
- Test cases prepared
Exit Criteria
- All rules validated
- No critical business logic defects
8. Common Defects Found
- Incorrect calculations
- Missing conditions
- Wrong rule precedence
- Inconsistent rule enforcement
9. Business Rule Testing vs Functional Testing
| Aspect | Business Rule Testing | Functional Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Business logic | Feature behavior |
| Impact | High business risk | Functional correctness |
| Priority | Very high | High |
10. Common Mistakes
- Testing only happy paths
- Ignoring rule combinations
- Poor understanding of domain logic
11. Interview-Ready Answers
Short answer:
Business rule testing validates that the application correctly implements business logic and policies.
Detailed answer:
Business rule testing ensures system behavior aligns with defined business rules, calculations, and decision criteria.
12. Key Takeaway
Business Rule Testing protects the core business value of the application.