Requirements Traceability
// Definition
The ability to link every requirement to the test cases that verify it, and trace every test case back to the requirement it covers. A requirements traceability matrix (RTM) makes gaps explicit: a requirement with no linked test case is a coverage hole; a test case with no requirement link is an orphan that may be testing undocumented behaviour. RTMs are a common audit artefact in regulated industries.
// Related terms
Requirement
A documented condition or capability a system must satisfy — functional (what it does) or non-functional (how well it does it). Requirements are the source material for test case design: every requirement with no linked test case is a coverage gap, and a requirements traceability matrix makes those gaps explicit.
Test Case
A single, executable specification: preconditions, steps, expected result, and pass/fail criteria for one verification.
Test Coverage
A measure of which parts of the requirements or features have been exercised by tests. Distinct from code coverage — focuses on the spec, not the source.