The terms Test case and Test Scenario are related to Software testing. To ensure the proper function of the Software Test case and Test Scenario are performed. Test Case is a process that ensures certain functions of the software.
On the other hand, the Test Scenario is used to see the whole picture of the software functioning. Another big difference is that though both parts of Testing documentation but have a different radius of testing of the software. The range of Test Cases is specific, while the Test Scenario shows the whole picture.
Key Takeaways
- A test case is a detailed set of conditions, inputs, and expected outcomes for a specific functionality in a software application.
- A test scenario is a high-level description of a user’s interaction with the application, covering multiple test cases.
- Test cases are focused on specific requirements, while test scenarios provide an overall understanding of the system’s behaviour.
Test Case vs Test Scenario
A test case is a set of instructions or steps that are executed to verify the behaviour of a specific feature or functionality of a software application. A test scenario is a high-level description of a particular testing situation. It is a more general description of what needs to be tested.
The Test Case is detailed testing documentation that contains all the steps of navigation. This determines whether the required functions of a particular software if working properly or not. This is for a particular single application. These are very detailed documents providing information like Strategy, Process, and expected outputs as well.
The Test Scenario is detailed documentation containing all the test case information. This provides knowledge about the functionality of the software. A linear statement gives information about different applicants. Test Scenario contains different kinds of Test Cases. A particular number of Test Cases are aligned for each Test Scenario.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Test Case | Test Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| The Radius | Deep but smaller in the radius of scanning. More focused on a particular feature | Wide area of testing. Shows the whole functionality. |
| Actions | Low level actions | High level actions |
| Maintenance | Requires more effort for maintaining the process | Requires less effort for maintaining the process. |
| Content | Detailed documentation containing Input, Output and, the navigating steps as well. | Not detailed but rather have one-line statements about different tests to be performed. |
| Time Consumption | Requires more time due to its detailed nature | Requires less time in comparison |
What is Test Case?
To verify a particular action or function of software, testing is done, which is called a Test Case. This contains very detailed documentation. It contains test steps of the application, test data, Input data, and Positive and Negative predictions of the outcome as well.
This test is done to understand whether particular software is working according to the need of customers in the case of some specific function. This test doesn’t show the details of the whole software but is more focused on a particular feature.
This test checks whether the requirement of a particular feature is performed or not. The results of this test are detailed. This test takes much longer and is hard to maintain as well. These tests are more focused on what to test and how to test. This kind of test requires more resources.
Some examples of test cases are Testing the system while entering valid ids and passwords when invalid ids and passwords are entered or some other tests. All these tests are important because it shows if any errors occur. The improvement in functioning and features are acknowledged better through these tests.
What is Test Scenario?
As we can understand by the name itself, the Test Scenario gives us the whole scenario of all the functionality. All the test cases of any function of the whole software together form the document of the Test Scenario. This shows the positive and negative sides of the whole software’s functioning.
This is test is more like a list of cases that can be tested for better functionality. This requires fewer resources. This ensures the whole functioning of the software. As Test Scenario takes less time, it acts more like a quick tool for conforming to the functionality.
The results of these tests are single-lined statements. The statements contain information about every Test Case under this particular Test Scenario. This test is performed in any function that can be tested. From top to bottom, every functionality is tested in this process.
An example can be: The login Function of a website can be a Test Scenario under which lies many Test Cases. Entering valid ids and passwords, entering invalid ids and passwords, or some other tests related to logging in all these test cases can fall under a single test scenario.
Main Differences Between Test Case and Test Scenario
- Test Cases are detailed documentation, while Test Scenarios are a single statement.
- Test Case shows all the details about the test’s outcome, input, or process, while Test Scenario shows all the test cases required to be done.
- The Test Case shows the single functionality of a particular feature, while Test Scenario shows end to end functionality of the software.
- Test Case takes much more time and effort and is hard to maintain, while Test Scenarios takes less time and effort and are easy to maintain as well.
- Test cases are used for deep testing of the functionality of the software, while Test Scenario is used for broader testing of the software. We can assume that the Test Case is for measuring the flaws in depth while Test Scenario is for a wide search of flaws.
- Test Scenarios are more preferable in the IT sector due to their less consumption of effort and time, but Test Cases are much more detailed and knowledgeable.
- More functions and features for testing both Testing Cases and Testing Scenarios should be used to get more cover.
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-11659-9_28
- https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/2017-01-1992/
- https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/392/6/062194/meta
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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