Happy path

In the context of software or information modeling, a happy path is a default scenario featuring no exceptional or error conditions. For example, the happy path for a function validating credit card numbers would be where none of the validation rules raise an error, thus letting execution continue successfully to the end, generating a positive response.

Process steps for a happy path are also used in the context of a use case. In contrast to the happy path, process steps for alternate paths and exception paths may also be documented.

Happy path testing is a well-defined test case using known input, which executes without exception and produces an expected output.

Happy day (or sunny day) scenario and golden path are synonyms for happy path.

In use case analysis, there is only one happy path, but there may be any number of additional alternate path scenarios which are all valid optional outcomes. If valid alternatives exist, the happy path is then identified as the default or most likely positive alternative. The analysis may also show one or more exception paths. An exception path is taken as the result of a fault condition. Use cases and the resulting interactions are commonly modeled in graphical languages such as the Unified Modeling Language or SysML.

There is no agreed name for the opposite of happy paths: they may be known as sad paths, bad paths, or exception paths.