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How to write a software test case

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An introduction in writing software test cases. A software test case is a single test that aims to prove the validity of a component within a software application. A range of different test cases are created to fully test a software application.

Things You Will Need

You will need to define three components for every software test case you write. These components are as follows:

1. an overview of what you are expecting to achieve with the test case
2. the steps you need to follow to execute the test case
3. the expected results from running the test case and executing the test steps.

In order to prove the validity of a particular requirement of a software application a test case is written and then executed. The expected results from executing the test steps are compared against the actual results from running the test case. If the actual and expected results are the same then the software test case can be considered a pass. If there are any differences between the expected and actual results then the results need to be examined in more detail and, potentially, an issue report raised.

Test cases and their associated test results, are usually best tracked using software testing tools. The use of software testing tools makes it easier to report, collaborate and report on the status of hundreds or even thousands of test cases that might be executed against a software application.

The software test case is an integral part of any software testing process. Sticking to the proven approach for writing test cases ensures conformance with standards (like IEEE829) and ensure a structured approach to your software testing that ensures consistency.

Tips & Warnings

Just because a test cases expected results doesn't match the actual results doesn't mean the test case should automatically be considered a fail. There may be errors in the test case or there may be setup issues that have influenced the results. So careful consideration should be given to any reasons resulting in a discrepancy.