Welcome to the world of software testing, where proper organization and documentation are essential for delivering high-quality products. In this article, we'll explore the key elements of an effective testing process, including the detailed test plan and the specific test cases. Join us on this journey to understand how these components work together to ensure a successful testing process for any software project. Let's get started!
Test plan
A test plan is a document that defines how a software project will be tested. It plays an important role in the organization and management of testing. The test plan starts with a description of the purpose of testing. It specifies what exactly will be tested and what result is expected when testing is complete.
Also, the test plan includes a test scope. This section defines what will be tested and what is not included in the test scope. This helps to focus efforts on testing the most important features of the program.
Testing approach. This section describes the methods and approaches to be used for testing. For example, it can be manual testing, automated testing, or a combination of both approaches.
Resources. An important part of a test plan is to identify the resources required for testing. This includes the people, tools, hardware, and software that will be involved in the process.
Test schedule. This is the timetable for the test, including the start and end dates and the duration of each test phase.
Acceptance criteria. The test plan also defines the criteria that will be used to determine when testing is considered complete. This could be achieving a certain level of test coverage, passing all tests, or other criteria.
Risks and action plan. This section describes possible risks and issues that may arise during the testing process and an action plan for dealing with them.
Summary report. The final part of the test plan specifies additional documents that will be generated as a result of testing, such as bug reports, a summary of test results, etc.
The test plan is usually written by the test team or the tester responsible for project test management. This process involves interaction with developers, project managers, analysts, and other members of the software development team.
Let's say you have a simple user registration web application and we want to create a test plan to test it. Here is an example of a simple test plan for this application:
It is the responsibility of the test lead or team lead to create the test plan document.
Criteria for starting the test:
Readiness of the test platform (test bench).
Completeness of the development of the required functionality.
Availability of all required documentation.
No changes to the source code for the duration of the test (code freeze).
Test completion criteria:
Test results meet product quality criteria.
Test results meet acceptance criteria.
No critical defects.
Good additions:
Environment of the system under test (browser, operating system, etc.)
Hardware and software required for testing (test bench and its configuration, automated testing software, etc.)
Risks and how to deal with them.
It is important to know, that this document is formal, it can be in any form, it may or may not contain certain clauses.
Test cases
A test case is a document that describes the steps and expected results for testing a specific functionality or scenario in an application. It helps testers perform testing in a systematic and detailed manner, ensuring that all aspects of the functionality are tested and work correctly.
The structure of a test case typically includes:
Test case title: describes what is being tested.
Test case ID: a unique number to identify the test case (often generated automatically).
Description: a short description of what is being tested.
Prerequisites: conditions that must be met before testing can begin.
Steps: a sequence of actions to be performed by the tester.
Expected result: a description of what is expected after each step has been performed.
Example test case for the User Registration application:
If the tester follows all the steps and sees the expected result, the test case is considered successful. If not, the tester will register a bug or defect for the developers to fix before releasing the application.
Test summary report
A test summary report is a document that provides a comprehensive overview of the tests performed and the results of the testing of a software product. It is used as a tool for analyzing the quality and release readiness of the product.
The main elements of a test summary report are as follows:
An overview of the test effort. The report provides an overview of the number of test cycles performed, the resources used, the time spent, and the people involved in the testing process.
Number of test cases performed. The report provides information on the number of functionalities tested, and their successful or unsuccessful execution.
Defects detected. The report provides an overview of all detected defects (bugs) in the software product, including their severity and priority, as well as information about their correction status.
Test coverage. The report provides information on which parts of the product have been tested and which have not, allowing you to assess the completeness of the testing.
The final test report plays a key role for stakeholders such as customers, project managers, and developers. It helps them make informed decisions about the quality of the software and its readiness for release.
Summary test report:
Summary reports are produced by testers or test teams after the testing of a particular product or project has been completed. They are responsible for collecting and analyzing the data gathered during testing and providing an informative overview that gives an overall picture of the quality of the product or application.
Conclusion
In this topic we have sorted out complex documents, so in conclusion, we will look at them again using the example of a sea voyage in order to finally summarize the difference between them. A test model is like a construction blueprint for a tester. It gives a clear and structured idea of how we will approach testing. The test plan is like a navigation map for the captain of the test team. It contains the exact coordinates, sailing plan, and resource management. Test cases are like tools and equipment taken on board a ship. They are sets of detailed instructions for testing specific aspects of a product. The final report is like a captain's logbook, recording all the events of the test voyage. It describes the issues found, the test coverage, and the overall quality assessment of the product.