Confused about test cases and test scenarios? If this rings a bell, you’ve come to the right place. With testers scrambling to ensure quality software, it is important to define what each of these terms means and how they are related – but first, let us understand why these two concepts are integral in testing.
Test cases refer to specific steps that need to be taken by a tester or executed through automation while executing tests. Test scenarios on the other hand are an outline of multiple different use cases which should eventually be converted into detailed test cases with all the necessary pieces of information spelled out such as expected results, pre-conditions, etc.
What is Test Case?
- Test Case is an important component of software testing and quality assurance. Test cases consist of specific sets of instructions used to determine the behavior of an application under test.
- Test cases are constructed in order to validate that functions, features, and content of software products behave as expected. Test cases help ensure the reliability and accuracy of a software product by providing rigorous tests for each feature.
- By executing test cases on a regular basis, it can be determined early on which areas are successful, and which need further development or review. Test Cases, therefore, play a key role in producing high-quality, reliable software products.
What is Test Scenario?
Test scenarios are high-level descriptions of an expected outcome used to determine whether a system works correctly. Test scenarios require the tester to think through an entire process including what the testee is exposed to, the types of user inputs, errors or scenarios that would need to be validated, and outcomes that should occur when certain conditions are met.
- Test scenarios should provide detail as to how the system must behave under certain conditions. Test scenarios help focus our tests on important areas and ensure that all appropriate tests have been performed.
- They also serve as an excellent starting point for creating a more in-depth test case or step-by-step instructions regarding a testing process.
- Test scenarios can range from complex multi-step processes with detailed expectations for each step, to simpler evaluations of expected outcomes given specific inputs.
Difference between Test Case and Test Scenario
Test Cases and Test Scenarios are often confused with one another, but they actually serve different purposes.
- Test Cases are used to verify if a system or application works as expected by guiding the tester through the steps to find defects or bugs.
- Test Scenarios, on the other hand, are written to represent an overarching flow of an activity that the user would be taking in order to make use of the functionality.
- Test Scenarios thus define what features need to be tested so that they can be broken down into more granular Test Cases.
- Test scenarios focus on providing a bigger picture whereas Test Cases paint a detailed model for testers to go through systematically.
Thus Test Cases and Test Scenarios both form an integral part of software testing and development ensuring quality products for customers.
Conclusion
That’s a quick overview of the main differences between test cases and scenarios. In short, test cases are more specific and limited in scope, while scenarios provide a broader view of how the system might work. As you can see, it’s important to understand the difference when creating or reviewing test plans.
