How do you apply best practices and standards for test case documentation and naming? (2024)

Last updated on Jul 24, 2024

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QA Engineering

1

Follow a test case template

2

Use meaningful and consistent naming conventions

3

Write clear and precise test steps

4

Review and optimize your test cases

5

Follow industry standards and best practices

6

Here’s what else to consider

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Test cases are the building blocks of any testing process, whether manual or automated. They define the inputs, actions, expected results, and verification criteria for testing a specific feature or functionality. But how do you write test cases that are clear, consistent, and comprehensive? How do you apply best practices and standards for test case documentation and naming? In this article, we will explore some tips and techniques to help you improve your test case quality and readability.

Key takeaways from this article

Adopt a template:

Implementing a test case template ensures consistency and clarity. It makes it easier to write, review, and maintain your test cases, which streamlines the testing process.
Version control for templates:

Using version control for your test case templates helps manage changes effectively. As your project evolves, so can your templates, keeping everyone on the same page and up-to-date.

This summary is powered by AI and these experts

Masood Vaezi Director of QA
Arian Alijani Software QA Automation Engineer at…

1 Follow a test case template

A test case template is a standardized format for documenting test cases, which helps you organize and structure them in a consistent way, making them easier to review, execute, and maintain. Generally, these templates include a unique identifier for each test case, a concise and descriptive name, a brief summary of the purpose and scope, prerequisites or assumptions, a numbered sequence of actions, input values or parameters, the expected outcome or output, the actual outcome or output, the result of the test case execution (pass, fail, blocked etc.), and any additional notes or observations. You can create and store your test case template using a spreadsheet, word processor or test management tool. Also, you can customize your template to suit your project needs and preferences.

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Arian Alijani Software QA Automation Engineer at Spotzer Digital
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I have observed an effective practice that involves utilizing version control for test case templates. Similar to how code evolves, test case templates can also change as project requirements shift or new testing approaches are adopted. Employing a version control system enables you to monitor modifications, keep a record of revisions, and confirm that everyone is utilizing the most recent template version. This promotes consistency and guarantees that all team members are utilizing the latest template.

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Alexandra Tobon Test Automation Engineer
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Its always good to have a customized template for test case. Many test case management tools provide many fields which are really not required. The way test cases are written for API testing is different when compared to regression testing, its also different when we compare visual regression. So the test case template should be curved as per the need of the team.

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Md Maruf Rahman ISTQB® Certified Tester | QA Automation Engineer | Cypress | WebdriverIO | Selenium |
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For effective test case documentation and naming, adhere to best practices and standards. Clearly define the purpose, preconditions, steps, expected outcomes, and post-conditions. Use descriptive names that convey the functionality being tested. Follow a consistent naming convention for easy identification and categorization. Prioritize clarity and conciseness to enhance readability and maintainability. Regularly review and update documentation to reflect any changes in the software. Consistent application of these practices ensures comprehensive and well-organized test case documentation, facilitating efficient testing processes and collaboration within the team.

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2 Use meaningful and consistent naming conventions

A good test case name should be clear and concise, conveying the main objective and scope of the test. It should also adhere to a consistent naming convention that makes it easy to identify and categorize. A common naming convention is to use the format [Feature]_[Scenario]_[Expected Result]. For example, when testing a login feature, you could name your test cases Login_ValidCredentials_Success, Login_InvalidCredentials_Error, Login_EmptyFields_Error, and Login_LockedAccount_Error. This naming convention helps avoid ambiguity, redundancy, and confusion when writing and reviewing your test cases.

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Masood Vaezi Director of QA
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From my experience, it's advisable to include the use case when organizing your test cases. Take, for instance, the scenario of "Authentication_Login_LockedAccount_Error." When dealing with an extensive test case repository, effective categorization significantly simplifies the process of locating specific test cases.

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Alexandra Tobon Test Automation Engineer
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test case naming convention plays a vital role. Currently most of the test automation frameworks supports updating the test results in test management tools, these test case names act as the unique identifiers for test cases. So we need to ensure the test case name stays meaningful and unique.

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3 Write clear and precise test steps

Test steps are the core of your test case, and they should be clear and precise, leaving no room for interpretation or variation. To achieve this, use simple and direct language, start each step with a verb, specify exact input values or parameters, indicate expected results or feedback, and avoid unnecessary or irrelevant details. Additionally, avoid combining multiple actions or checks in one step. For example, instead of writing “Enter username and password and click login button” and “Check if you see the welcome message and the dashboard”, write “Enter a valid username in the username field”, “Enter a valid password in the password field”, “Click the login button”, “Verify that the welcome message is displayed”, and “Verify that the dashboard is displayed”. This way you make your test steps more clear and precise and easier to follow and verify.

4 Review and optimize your test cases

Writing test cases is an ongoing process. You should regularly review and optimize your test cases to ensure they are accurate, relevant, and effective. Consider if your test cases are aligned with the requirements and specifications, if they cover all positive and negative scenarios, if they avoid duplication or overlap, if they are readable and understandable, and if they are maintainable and scalable. You can use peer reviews, checklists, metrics, or tools to help with the review process. Additionally, techniques such as test case prioritization, design, or automation can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your test cases.

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Mohammad Monfared Test Automation Architect | SDET | QA Lead | Cypress Ambassador | Mentor | Consultant | YouTube Instructor
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The question arises: When should we add, review, or make changes to test cases? Here, I'll list some scenarios:Adding new test cases:- Create draft test cases when we have initial requirements and designs.- Introduce new test cases when a bug is reported, but it can't be reproduced with existing test cases.- Enhance test coverage by adding new test cases to existing test suites.Updating current test cases:- Finalize draft test cases based on the initial version of the actual application.- Make updates when changes occur in existing features for which we have test cases.- Implement changes during the review process.- Modify test cases when there are alterations in configuration or data.

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5 Follow industry standards and best practices

Test case documentation and naming should not be arbitrary or subjective. To ensure that test cases are consistent, compliant, and compatible with other testing processes and tools, you can follow industry standards and best practices such as IEEE 829, ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119, ISTQB, and BDD. IEEE 829 is a standard for software test documentation that defines the format and content of various test documents. ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 is a standard for software testing that outlines concepts, processes, techniques, and artifacts for software testing. ISTQB is a certification scheme for software testing with a common vocabulary, framework, and guidelines for software testing. BDD is a methodology for software development and testing that uses natural language and scenarios to describe the behavior of the software. By following these standards and best practices, you can ensure that your test cases meet the best practices of the software testing community.

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Mohammad Monfared Test Automation Architect | SDET | QA Lead | Cypress Ambassador | Mentor | Consultant | YouTube Instructor
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IEEE 829 is one of the most valuable documents I've ever come across in my life! here are some of the important parts of it:- Test Plan (TP): helps in crafting a well-structured test plan.- Test Design / Test Case Specifications (TDS/TCS): assists in designing effective test-case templates- Test Procedure Specifications (TPS): guides on how to execute tests, including setup and teardown steps.- Test Log (TL) / Test Summary Report (TSR): aid in providing detailed results, summary, report and test coverage details.- Test Entry and Exit Criteria: define the conditions that must be met before and after test execution.- Test Traceability Matrix (TTM): ensures that all requirements are adequately covered by test cases

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you apply best practices and standards for test case documentation and naming? (2024)

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Follow a test case template

2 Use meaningful and consistent naming conventions

3 Write clear and precise test steps

4 Review and optimize your test cases

5 Follow industry standards and best practices

6 Here’s what else to consider

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