Testdokumentation

Testdokumentation is the set of documents that describe the testing activities in software engineering, including the basis for testing, test design, execution results, and evaluation. It serves to support verification and validation by providing traceability, auditability, and a knowledge base for project stakeholders.

Typical components of Testdokumentation include the test strategy, test plan, test cases and test scripts, test data, description of the test environment, test execution logs, defect or issue reports, a traceability matrix, a test summary report, and release notes. Depending on the project, additional elements such as risk lists, entry and exit criteria, and automation scripts may be maintained to support governance and reproducibility.

The documentation is produced early in the project during test planning and is maintained throughout the test lifecycle. It should be version-controlled, reviewed, and approved, with changes reflected in related artifacts. It provides criteria for pass/fail, exit criteria, details about the environment, required resources, schedules, and responsibilities, helping to coordinate testing activities and enable informed decision making.

Standards and guidelines commonly referenced for Testdokumentation include IEEE 829, Software Test Documentation, and ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119, with organizations often adapting these to their context. In agile environments, documentation should be lightweight while remaining sufficiently detailed to support audits, regulatory considerations, and long-term maintenance.

Best practices emphasize using templates and checklists, maintaining traceability between requirements, tests, and defects, protecting sensitive data, automating where feasible, keeping documentation current and concise, retiring obsolete documents, and employing metrics to assess coverage and quality. Proper Testdokumentation enhances communication, accountability, and quality assurance across the software lifecycle.