Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use with electronic circuit design tools to define and test multiple power and ground domains within an electronic circuit design. The present invention defines a power and ground specification associated with a CAD/CAE tools design database. To build the power and ground specification, first, power and ground domains are defined and the circuit design is partitioned into one or more groups of devices which correspond to the power and ground domains. Second, power and ground signals are associated with these defined groups of devices. Lastly, this information is stored within a power and ground specification integrated with the information within the design database to allow the CAD/CAE tools to test the multiple power and ground domains within the IC or circuit board design.