Why Do We Write Test Cases

What is Test cases?

Test cases are important to evaluate and repair bugs in the software, as it is a sum of the various planned test process. A test case is a set of variables that helps the tester to verify whether the application is free of bugs and satisfies the requirements of the end-user.

It requires a vivid understanding of the software application under the test and basic writing skills. It is a great tool for documentation and verification of the expected test results. Often it is observed that even after several days of testing, the testers are unsure whether they have covered all the scenarios complementing the expectations set by the client. One of the best practices followed to avoid this situation is to get the test cases prepared in advance. The test cases should be covering all known scenarios such as positive or negative to test the software the test cases are prepared in advance, then testers have a clear idea of what expectations need to be achieved in order to give a final sign-off.

If the test cases are reviewed by the client then they too can provide their feedback and the test cases can be updated. with the help of test cases, the tester recalls the functionality when it comes back for testing after a long time gap. Also, if any tester is assigned to test software already in place then the test cases will help in making sure that the new tester does not miss any positive scenario.

How to Write Test Cases

To learn how to write test cases, following we are going to share some points that you have to keep in mind while writing test cases or test scripts.

1.Title

An important part of writing a test case is Title or Test Case ID. Mostly, the title varies from weak to strong, and a strong title is that which is named in accordance with the tested module and has an identifier. For example, if one is testing a login page of an application, the ‘Login page’ should be in the title of the test case as a unique identifier.

2.Description

This details the tester, on the required knowledge on what they are to test, requirement ID, and all other requirements that are useful. It is used to prepare the requirement traceability matrix(RTM) between test cases and requirements. It is in simple words that directly communicate the goal of the test

3.Assumptions

If there’s any condition or assumptions that apply to the test. They should all be met before the execution of test cases. This knowledge may include details on how to start the test, dependencies on the test environment, and any special requirements that must be met before execution

4.Clear and concise Tests

Test steps should contain the detailed process and information required to execute the test. The test case steps should be made tester-friendly and simple. Because in some cases, the person who wrote the test case might not be the one to use it. Test cases help new team players get a good experience about the software and test management processes

5.Expected Result

The expected result should be included so that it tells the test engineer what the possible outcomes of the test would be. It is the way the test engineer is able to determine whether the test case is a pass or a fail.

6.Consistency

A well-written test case is consistent and can remain a tool for software teams for testing scenarios. It is better to reuse test cases rather than re-write them.

Benefits of Writing Test Cases

The main objective of a test case is to ensure if different features within an application are working as expected. It helps the tester to validate if the application is free of defects and if it is working as per the expectations of the end-users. Other benefits of test cases include:

1. It ensure good test coverage

2. Helps in improving the quality of software,

3. Test Cases decreases the maintenance and software support costs

4. It helps to verify that the software meets the end user requirements

5. Permits the tester to think closely and approach the tests

6. It is reusable so anyone can reference them and execute the test cases in the future