testlog

Testlog is a record of testing activity, created by software testing processes to document the execution of test cases and their outcomes. It is typically generated during or after running a test suite and can be produced by automated test frameworks, continuous integration systems, or manual logging tools. A testlog usually includes a chronological sequence of entries with timestamps, identifiers for the test cases or steps, the result status (pass, fail, blocked, skipped), and any diagnostic information such as error messages, stack traces, exception details, and environment data (operating system, software version, configuration). It may also contain runtime metrics like duration, memory usage, and notes or attachments such as screenshots.

The primary purposes of a testlog are to enable debugging of failures, provide traceability and reproducibility of test runs, enable auditing and compliance, and support trend analysis and reporting. Test logs can be stored as plain text or in structured formats such as JSON, XML, or specialized log formats. Many test frameworks emit logs in canonical forms (for example JUnit XML, xUnit, or TAP), while continuous integration systems consolidate logs from multiple steps into artifacts or dashboards.

Best practices include including unique identifiers for test runs, normalizing timestamps, filtering sensitive data, log rotation, and preserving historical logs for auditing. Test logs are complementary to test reports, which typically summarize results at higher levels; logs provide the detailed, step-by-step ground truth behind those summaries.