Base Line

What is a Baseline?

A baseline is a formally reviewed and approved version of a work product (requirements, design, test plan, or code) that serves as a fixed reference point for future development and comparison.

Why Baselines Matter

• They provide a stable reference point against which changes can be tracked and measured.
• Any change to a baselined item must go through a formal change control process.
• They support accurate impact analysis when changes are proposed.

Examples of Baselines

• A baselined requirements document, against which requirement volatility is measured.
• A baselined test suite, used as the standard regression suite for future releases.