testCase

A test case is a precise set of conditions or variables under which a tester determines whether a software system or component behaves as intended. It serves as a fundamental unit of test design used to verify compliance with requirements, acceptance criteria, and quality goals. A test case typically documents an objective, preconditions, test data, steps to execute, the expected result, and the actual result observed during testing. Additional fields often include a unique identifier, priority, author, environment, and status.

A test case outlines the specific inputs and actions to be performed, the environment in which the test runs, and the criteria used to determine success or failure. It may also specify postconditions or cleanup steps. Common test case content includes test case ID, title, description, prerequisites, data requirements, steps, expected result, actual result, status, and traceability to requirements or design items.

Test cases are designed to cover various scenarios, including positive (valid inputs, normal operation), negative (invalid inputs, error handling), boundary conditions, and techniques such as equivalence partitioning or decision table testing. They can be written for manual execution or automated as scripts, and are typically organized into test suites or test plans for management and reporting.

In practice, test cases are created during test design, reviewed for completeness, executed, and maintained as the software evolves. They are commonly stored in test management tools and linked to requirements for traceability. Automated test cases integrate with build pipelines and reporting systems to provide repeatable, verifiable results.