ISO IEC IEEE 29119-5-2024 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-5:2024 — Software and systems engineering — Software testing — Part 5: Keyword-driven testing. This international standard defines the keyword-driven testing approach, provides a reference implementation approach and framework requirements, specifies minimum requirements for supporting tools, and defines interfaces and a common data exchange format to enable sharing and interchange of keyword-driven test artefacts (test cases, test data, keywords and test results) across tools and organizations.

Abstract

The standard introduces keyword-driven testing, describes hierarchical keyword structures (including guidance on when to use hierarchical versus "flat" keywords), gives an initial list of example low-level technical keywords (for example inputData and checkValue) that can be combined into higher-level business keywords, and sets out requirements for frameworks and tools as well as requirements for a common exchange format so different vendors' tools can interoperate. It is intended for anyone creating keyword-driven test specifications, building keyword-driven frameworks, or implementing test automation based on keywords.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: 2024-12 (2024 edition, published December 2024 / cataloged 2024-12).
• Publisher: Joint ISO/IEC/IEEE international standard (published via ISO as ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-5:2024; also available through IEEE and national bodies).
• ICS / categories: 35.080 (Software development and system documentation / software engineering/testing).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2024 revision, replaces the 2016 edition).
• Number of pages: 55 pages (official ISO bibliographic entry).

Scope

This part of ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 specifies an approach to keyword-driven testing and sets requirements and guidance for: (1) designing and structuring keywords (including hierarchical levels), (2) requirements on frameworks that implement keyword-driven testing to enable reuse and sharing of test artefacts, (3) minimum requirements for tools that support keyword-driven testing (test automation, test design and test management tools), and (4) defining interfaces and a common data exchange format so tools from different vendors can exchange keyword-driven test data and results. The standard is intended for organizations and practitioners creating keyword-driven test specifications, frameworks, and automation.

Key topics and requirements

• Introduction and definition of keyword-driven testing concepts and terminology.
• Reference approach and recommended architecture for implementing keyword-driven testing frameworks.
• Requirements for frameworks to support sharing of test artefacts (test cases, keywords, test data, specifications).
• Minimum requirements for tools that support keyword-driven testing (automation, design, management).
• Definition of interfaces and a common data exchange format to enable interoperability across tools and vendors.
• Guidance on hierarchical keyword levels, when to use hierarchical vs flat keywords, and types of keywords (e.g., navigation, verification).
• An initial example list of generic low-level technical keywords (e.g., inputData, checkValue) that can be combined into higher-level business keywords.

These key topics and requirements are derived from the standard's abstract and normative content.

Typical use and users

Primary users include test architects, test automation engineers, QA leads, test tool vendors, and organizations standardizing their automated testing approach. Typical uses are: designing keyword-driven test specifications, building or evaluating keyword-driven frameworks, specifying tool requirements for keyword support and interoperability, exchanging test artefacts between tools, and creating reusable business-level keyword libraries for automated test suites.

Related standards

Part 5 is one part of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 software testing series. Other relevant parts include ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-1 (concepts and definitions), 29119-2 (test processes), 29119-3 (test documentation), and 29119-4 (test techniques). Related process and assessment standards (and previously related work) include ISO/IEC 33063 and earlier IEEE test documentation standards that the 29119 family consolidates.

Keywords

keyword-driven testing; test automation; keyword framework; hierarchical keywords; test data exchange; interoperability; test cases; test specifications; ISO 29119; software testing standard.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-5:2024 is the part of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 series that defines keyword-driven testing: concepts, framework and tool requirements, hierarchical keyword guidance, and a common exchange format for keyword-based test artefacts.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the keyword-driven testing approach (from low-level technical keywords to business-level keywords), requirements for implementing frameworks, minimum requirements for supporting tools, and interfaces/data-exchange formats to allow artefact sharing between tools. It also provides example keywords and guidance on keyword structure.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Test architects, automation engineers, QA leads, tool vendors and organizations that need standardized, reusable keyword-based test artefacts and interoperable toolchains use this standard. It is useful where test automation and artefact sharing are required.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2024 edition is the current published edition (Edition 2, published December 2024) and it supersedes the 2016 edition of ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-5.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 5 of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 series on software testing; the series includes Parts 1 through 4 (concepts, processes, documentation and techniques) and this Part 5 focuses on keyword-driven testing.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: The key keywords for indexing and discovery are: keyword-driven testing, keyword framework, test automation, hierarchical keywords, interoperability, test data exchange, test cases, ISO 29119. These reflect the standard's principal topics.