Testikuvauksia

Testikuvauksia are descriptions of tests used to plan, document, and communicate testing activities. In software quality assurance and related fields, a test description outlines the test objective, scope, inputs, and expected outcomes, without necessarily detailing every procedural step. They serve as a high-level guide that helps teams understand what is being tested and why.

Purpose and use

Test descriptions aim to ensure alignment with requirements, support repeatability of testing, and provide traceability between tests and the associated requirements or user stories. They are commonly used in test planning and can form the basis for more detailed test cases or test scripts. They also help stakeholders understand the intent and scope of testing efforts.

Content and structure

A typical test description includes: objective or goal; scope and constraints; prerequisites or setup; test data or inputs; environment considerations; expected results or acceptance criteria; any notes, dependencies, or risks; and references to requirements or user stories. The level of detail can vary; some organizations maintain high-level descriptions, while others use structured templates.

Relation to test cases

Test descriptions are often high-level and may precede formal test cases. They can describe a test scenario or a family of related tests, whereas a test case provides step-by-step instructions, specific inputs, and exact expected outcomes. In practice, test descriptions and test cases are complementary parts of test design and execution.

Formats and practice

Formats range from free text to structured templates or table formats. In Finnish contexts, terms include testikuvaus or testikuvauksia, reflecting native-language templates used in planning documents. Good practice emphasizes clarity, testability, and traceability to requirements, with consistent terminology across the project.