A gateway question is a question used to open up a line of further questioning. An open question often acts as a gateway to deeper discussion, but a closed question can too: an unexpected or definite answer becomes the starting point for asking why a decision was made.
So what? Thinking of questions as gateways helps testers plan a conversation, not just a single question. It turns an answer that feels like a dead end into a route towards understanding someone's reasoning.
Examples: Starting an interview with a broad open question, then following up with clarifying and probing questions. Treating a firm "no" to a closed question as a prompt to explore the reasons behind it.
