Writing a great test case can be challenging sometimes taking into account how many test management tools are available in the market and also due to each company’s preference for one over another. Let’s split test cases by their most common sections and address each one separately. Of course, please keep in mind, that their names might vary depending on the each tool.
Test Case Title
The title of a test case should clearly indicate the feature or service* being tested, along with the specific test scenario. A well-structured title makes it easy for anyone to understand the purpose of the test at a glance.
(*) feature or service are common terms used in software development and, in short, they refer to specific areas of the application.
Let’s see some examples of test case titles for some common functionality on UI testing and API testing.
- Login Screen: Admin User is Able to Login into Application.
- User Details API: Update User Details is Successful – 200 OK Status Code Returned.
By using descriptive titles, you enhance the readability and traceability of your test cases.
Test Steps
When writing test steps, ensure that they are clear enough for any team member—whether technical, non-technical, or a new hire—to understand and reproduce without further assistance. High-quality test cases can serve as valuable resources for onboarding new team members.
Each test step should generally contain the following four fields:
- Action
- Expected Result
- Test Data
- Attachments
⚠️Sensitive information, such as passwords, API keys, and other secrets, must never appear in the test case. Including such information can create significant security vulnerabilities in your application.
Action
In this section, provide a detailed description of the action the user should take. Include specific information such as URLs or links to relevant documentation.
Let’s see some examples of step actions for the login test title:
- Step 1: Access the login screen corresponding to the testing environment:
{env}-my-application-url/login. - Step 2: Fill in the username and password fields with valid credentials, then click on the Login button.
Expected Result
The expected result outlines what should happen after the action is performed. Like the action section, the expected result should be detailed to ensure that anyone following the steps can easily determine the outcome (pass / fail / blocked).
Following our previous login example:
- Step 1 – expected result: the login page should load successfully in the browser.
- Step 2 – expected result: The login information has been successfully submitted, and the user should be redirected to the Dashboard page.
Test Data
Clearly document the test data used in your tests, as different datasets can lead to varying results. If your test management tool doesn’t include such a section, consider including this information in the Action section, following the action description.
Attachments
Incorporate visual aids, such as screenshots, wherever possible because as everyone knows “A picture is worth a thousand words”.
These can clarify the action taken or the expected result. Remember to obfuscate any sensitive information in the screenshots, as visible passwords and API keys could pose a security risk.
Other Relevant Fields
Preconditions
While not all tools include a preconditions section, it’s essential to document necessary conditions for the test case to run successfully. If your tool doesn’t include a preconditions field / section, you could try adding them in the Description field of the test case, as usually this allows text input of lengthy size. Another option is to list preconditions as the first step of the test case. Just as in the case of the test steps, it is useful to add as many details as possible or even screenshots for preconditions so that anyone can reproduce the test without assistance.
An example of a precondition would be: ensure that the user for which the details update is required exists in the database. In case the user needs to be created, please refer to this test case [insert URL here].
Tags / Components & Labels
Using tags, labels and / or components in your test cases is essential for efficient organization and retrieval. By tagging each test case with relevant services impacted, you can easily locate them for regression testing or when new features are introduced. Even if your team works on a single service, tagging related functionalities can significantly improve test case management.
An example would be using the tag / label login for all test cases involving login functionality if this includes many scenarios.
The same applies for components, the difference between this field and the tags / labels is that it is usually a predefined list instead of an open field.
Linked Items
Always ensure that the test case is linked to the corresponding ticket or issue. This relationship between test cases and tickets is crucial for tracking and reporting purposes.
Conclusion
Writing effective test cases is essential for ensuring the reliability and quality of your software. By following the structured approach outlined in this article, you can create test cases that are clear, concise, and easy to understand, enabling anyone on the team to reproduce and validate them.
Key Components of Test Cases
Most test case management tools feature at least three critical sections: Test Action, Test Data, and Expected Result. Familiarizing yourself with these components will help you standardize your test case writing and ensure that important information is not overlooked.
Best Practices for Test Case Writing:
- Be Descriptive: Use clear and specific titles and descriptions to communicate the purpose of each test case.
- Keep It Simple: Write test steps that are easy for both technical and non-technical team members to understand.
- Prioritize Security: Always safeguard sensitive data by omitting it from test cases and obfuscating any information in screenshots.
- Utilize Visuals: Incorporate screenshots or diagrams to enhance understanding and context.
- Critical Components of Test Cases: Test Action, Test Data, and Expected Result. Understanding these components will help you standardize your test case writing and ensure that important information is not overlooked.
- Stay Organized: Use tags and components to categorize and locate test cases efficiently.
- Link to Requirements: Ensure each test case is connected to relevant tickets or user stories for traceability.
Encouraging a culture of thorough documentation and collaboration within your team will not only improve the quality of your testing efforts but also foster a shared understanding of the application among all members.
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