Test Case vs Test Scenario – What’s the Difference?

Software Testing Automation Testing Testing Tools

What does the Test Case entail?

A test case is a set of criteria that a tester uses to verify whether or not a software application is meeting the customer's requirements.

Preconditions, case name, input conditions, and intended outcome are all included in the test case design. A test case is a basic activity that is derived from test scenarios.

It is a comprehensive document that comprises all potential inputs (both positive and negative) as well as navigation instructions for the test execution process. Writing test cases is a one-time effort that may be reused for regression testing in the future.

The test case contains thorough information about the testing approach, procedure, preconditions, and expected results. These are used during the testing phase to see if the software program is capable of executing the purpose for which it was created.

By associating a defect with a test case ID, test cases assist testers in defect reporting. The testing team benefits from detailed test case documentation because if the developer misses something, it may be detected during the execution of these full-proof test cases.

To construct the test case, we need the requirements to extract the inputs, as well as the test scenarios to ensure that we don't overlook any testing features. Then, to ensure uniformity, we should have a test case template, or every test engineer should produce the test document in the same way.

Whenever the developer is busy creating code, we will usually write the test case.

When should a test case be written?

When we have the following information, we will write the test case −

When the customer provides the business requirements, the developer begins work and estimates that the product will take 3.5 months to complete.

Meanwhile, the testing group will begin developing the test cases.

It will email it to the Test Lead for evaluation once it is completed.

The product is then turned over to the testing team once the developers have finished building it.

Because testing is consistent and does not depend on the mood of the person rather than the quality of the test engineer, test engineers never glance at the requirement when testing the product document.

What is a Test Scenario, and how does it work?

Any functionality that may be tested is specified as a Test Scenario. It is a collection of test scenarios that assists the testing team in determining the project's positive and negative features.

The Test Scenario provides a high-level overview of what has to be tested.

In liner statements, a test scenario is a complete list containing test cases that cover the end-to-end functionality of a software program. A scenario is defined as a linear statement. The test scenario is a categorization of testable requirements at a high level. These criteria are categorized according to a module's functionality and derived from use cases.

Because there are so many test cases in the scenario, there is a thorough testing process. The tester must evaluate the test cases for each scenario before completing the test scenario.

Testers must put themselves in the shoes of the user in the test scenario since they are testing the software application from the user's perspective. The most important aspect of the process is scenario preparation, which necessitates seeking advice or assistance from consumers, stakeholders, or developers.

Test Scenarios: How to Write Them

To build Test Scenarios as a tester, follow these steps
Examine the software's requirement documents, such as the BRS (Business Requirement Specification), SRS (System Requirement Specification), and FRS (Functional Requirement Specification).
For each need, determine all technical factors and objectives.
Find every feasible way for the user to interact with the software.
Determine all conceivable scenarios in which the system might be abused, as well as users who could be hackers.
Make a list of possible test cases to check each function of the program after reading the requirement document and completing the planned analysis.
Create a traceability matrix once you've identified all of the available test scenarios to see if each requirement has a matching test scenario or not.
All possibilities are reviewed by the project supervisor. They are then reviewed by the project's other stakeholders.

Characteristics of the Test Scenario

The test scenario is a one-liner that directs testers through the testing process.
The product's complexity and repetition are reduced by using a test scenario.
A test scenario is when you speak and think about tests in great detail yet write them down in linear statements.
It's a series of procedures threaded together.
When the tester does not have enough time to develop test cases and the team agrees on a comprehensive liner scenario, the test scenario becomes more significant.
The test scenario is a useful exercise for saving time.
It is simple to maintain since adding and modifying test cases is simple and self-contained.

Exercising a Test Scenario

A few test cases for an eCommerce application might be −

Scenario 1 − Examine the Search Functions
Check the Payments Functionality in Scenario 2
Check the Login Functionality in Scenario 3

The Main Difference

A test case is a collection of actions that are carried out to check certain features or functionality, whereas a test scenario is any capability that may be evaluated.
Test Scenarios are derived from test artifacts such as BRS and SRS, whereas Test Cases are derived from test scenarios.
Test Cases aid in the thorough testing of an application, whereas Test Scenarios aid in the testing of end-to-end functionality in a more agile manner.
Test Cases are more concerned with what to test and how to test, whereas Test Scenarios are more concerned with what to test.
Low-level activities are Test Cases, whereas high-level actions are Test Scenarios.
Test Cases necessitate more resources and time to execute, whereas Test Scenarios necessitate fewer resources and time.
Test Cases include test procedures, data, and anticipated outcomes, whereas Test Scenarios contain end-to-end functionality to be evaluated.

Test Cases as an Example

There would be test cases for the Test Scenario: "Check the Login Functionality."

When a valid email address and password are entered, observe the system's reaction.
When an incorrect email address and a legitimate password are supplied, observe the system's behavior.
When a legitimate email address and an incorrect password are submitted, observe the system's behavior.
Check the system's response when an incorrect email address and password are submitted.
Examine the system's behavior when the email address and password are left blank and the Sign-in button is pressed.
Make sure Forgot your password is working properly.
When a valid or incorrect phone number and password are entered, observe the system's behavior.
When "Keep me signed" is selected, observe the system's actions.

Why do we write Test Cases in the first place?

Here are a few compelling reasons to develop a Test Case

Test cases aid in the verification of compliance with relevant standards, guidelines, and client needs.
Assists you in validating client expectations and requirements.
Control, logic, and data flow coverage have all been improved.
You may play around with real end-user scenarios.
exposes flaws or faults
The test engineer's job will be more structured and simpler when test cases are developed for test execution.

What is the purpose of writing a Test Scenario?

The following are some compelling reasons to build a Test Scenario

The primary goal of writing a test scenario is to ensure that the software application's whole functioning is verified.
It also aids in ensuring that business processes and flows are in compliance with functional requirements.
To guarantee that the Application Under Test is adequately tested, multiple stakeholders such as Business Analysts, Developers, and Customers can approve Test Scenarios. It assures that the program functions properly in the most prevalent scenarios.
They are useful for determining the testing work effort and, as a result, creating a proposal for the customer or organizing the workforce.
They aid in the identification of the most crucial end-to-end transactions or the actual use of software programs.
Test cases may simply be produced from these Test Scenarios once they've been finalized.

What is the difference between a test case and a test scenario?

There are important distinctions between a Test Case and a Test Scenario.

Test Scenario	Test Case
A test scenario is a high-level document that defines the functionality to be tested from beginning to end.	For evaluating all of an application's functionality, test cases contain specified test procedures, data, and expected results.
It emphasizes "what to test" rather than "how to test."	The emphasis is entirely on "what to test" and "how to test."
A one-liner is a test case. As a result, there is always the risk of ambiguity during testing	A step, pre-requisites, intended outcome, and so on are all described in test cases. As a result, there is no room for misunderstanding in this procedure
BRS, SRS, and other test artifacts are used to create test scenarios.	The majority of test cases are derived from test scenarios. A single Test Scenario might provide several test cases.
It aids in the rapid testing of end-to-end functionality.	It aids in the thorough testing of an application.
High-level actions are used in test scenarios.	Low-level actions are what test cases are.
Creating and testing scenarios requires significantly less time and money.	More resources are required for test case documentation and execution.

Example of a Test Case

Test cases should be clear and easy to understand.
Create a test case with the end-user in mind.
Repetition of test cases should be avoided.
You must ensure that test cases are written to ensure that all software requirements specified in the specification document are met.
When creating a test case, never make assumptions about the functioning and features of your software application.
The test cases must be easily distinguishable.

Example of a Test Scenario

The majority of test cases are single-line statements that specify what should be tested.
The scenario description should be straightforward and easy to comprehend.
A thorough examination of the specified criteria should be carried out.
Before commencing the testing process, gather the necessary tools and resources.

Vineet Nanda

Updated on: 02-Dec-2021

5K+ Views

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