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Test Scenario

A Test Scenario is a high-level, one-line statement that describes a possible action a user might take or a specific functionality of the software that needs to be tested. It is an abstract idea or a test objective, and it can be broken down into multiple, more detailed test cases. Test scenarios help a quality assurance team ensure that all aspects of a software feature are considered during the testing process.

Test Scenario vs. Test Case

  • A test scenario is a broad idea of what to test (e.g., "Verify user login functionality").
  • A test case is a detailed, step-by-step instruction on how to test that idea (e.g., "Log in with a valid username and password").

Example: For a website's user authentication system, a high-level test scenario would be "Verify that the login feature works correctly." This single scenario would then be broken down into multiple specific test cases, such as:

  1. Verify successful login with a valid username and password.
  2. Verify failed login with an incorrect password.
  3. Verify failed login with an incorrect username.
  4. Verify that a user is redirected to the correct page after a successful login.

This approach ensures that the entire login functionality is thoroughly tested, covering all possible conditions.