03-Mar-2016
Salient Tips for Writing Effective Test Cases
By Rajeev Verma
03-Mar-2016
By Rajeev Verma
Test cases play an important role in any project as this is the basic step in any testing cycle. If anything goes wrong at this step the impression get deduce as you move forward in the testing cycle.
A test case is a state under which a tester will decide whether an application/software system is working as it is originally established for it to do. It will decide whether a software program has passed or failed.
It may take many test cases to decide that a software program is considered successful to be released. Test case writing plays an important role and makes a test case an important part of the test execution process.
[ Related Read: How to Improve Test Case Efficiency? ]
Steps for writing Test cases:
Step 1: Naming Test Case Convention
Mentioning the test case convention name is necessary because it will make sense to anyone who will refer to the test case in future. This will help your teammates to find out which test case is one you needed.
You can name the test whichever way you want but should be sensible in comparison to test cases ID and test cases name. Although this is the simplest step to follow many of us don't follow it.
Step 2: Description
The description will contain all the details about what you are going to test, particular behaviour being verified by the test, what needs to be verified and in which test data management is to be used.
Step 3: Assumptions and Preconditions
You should communicate all assumptions while writing a test case, besides any preconditions that must be met before the test can be executed.
Step 4: Input Test Data
Identification of test data is a time-consuming task. It may sometimes need you to create test data afresh as creating new data will take lesser time with respect to the identification.
To make it easier you should you can give test data to be used for test cases within the description or test case step. If you know that the test data can be reused you can mention that data.
You could also decide to mention the type of data that is required to run the test and not the real test data value.
This applies to projects where the test data keeps on changing as multiple teams use it and may not be in the same state when I use it the next time.
Step 5: Covering Verification Points
Test case steps should be properly designed and must be covering all the verifications for the behaviour under test.
Test case steps given for your projects through that you can make sure that the Test Case optimally covers all the verification points.
Step 6: Expected Results
The test case should mention the expected result of the applications under test. All the steps should mention that what you expect the output of those steps.
So, it is necessary to mention all the details of those steps whose outcome you expect after the test.
Step 6: Reusable
Before writing the test case you should be confirmed that it could be re-used in future for other projects. It will be helpful if you will get the test case written earlier for the same module you can update those instead of writing new.
So you can re-use the previous test case in future and will save time.
Step 7: Post Conditions
In the postconditions, you have to specify the various things that need to verify after the test was carried out. They are used to give guiding instruction to restore the system.
Conclusion:
At last, writing effective test cases is an important aspect of the software testing process with all proper details, and we at BugRaptors prepare it according to the end user's perspective and cover all the important points.
I have tried to explain all the important points that need to be kept in mind while writing an Effective test case.
Rajeev Verma
Rajeev works as Project Manager at BugRaptors. He is working on several Web Applications, Network Vulnerability assessments, Mobile Applications, Secure Network Architecture reviews. Proven track record of successfully leading and mentoring cross-functional teams in dynamic environments. Work with all of the development teams to improve initial release quality, quality of production releases and agile development practices. He is passionate about leveraging technology to elevate QA practices and contribute to the success of innovative projects.
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