Artifact:  Test Case

Test Case	A test case is a set of test inputs, execution conditions, and expected results developed for particular objective, such as to exercise a particular program path or to verify compliance with a specific requirement.
Role:	Test Designer
More information:	Guidelines:Test Case Guidelines:Test Data Guidelines:Unit Test Checkpoints:Test Case
Purpose Brief Outline Timing Responsibility Tailoring

Input to Activities: Design Test Packages and Classes Implement Component Perform Unit Tests Implement Test Components and Subsystems Implement Test Evaluate Test Execute Test

Output from Activities: Design Test

Purpose

The purpose of the Test Case is to identify and communicate the conditions which will be implemented in test and are necessary to verify successful and acceptable implementation of the product requirements (use cases, performance characteristics, etc.). Test cases reflect one measure of test coverage, requirements-based test coverage, in that each test case traces back to at least one requirement for test - which reflect the product requirements, (see Concepts: Key Measures of Testing).

The following roles use the Test Case:

• The Test Designer to identify test procedures and test scripts.
• The Designer as input to design.
• The Implementer as input for implementing components and test functionality.

Brief Outline

1. Test Case Description

A description of the condition, program path, or objective that this set of data implements / executes.

2. Test Inputs

The objects or fields the actor interacts with and the specific data values entered (or object states created) by the actor when executing this test case.

3. Expected Results

The resulting state or data received upon completion of executing this test case.

Timing

The initial Test Cases are identified during the test design activity in Elaboration as soon as there are some use cases or scenarios defined. The Test Cases are refined throughout the remainder of the lifecycle during each iteration.

Responsibility

A Test Designer is responsible for the integrity of the Test Cases, ensuring that:

• The Test Cases accurately reflects the contents of the iteration.
• The Test Cases contain the appropriate content and detail necessary to create a condition execute the test case, and evaluate its execution.
• Each Test Case is traced backed to at least one requirement for test.
• Sufficient Test Cases have been identified to verify satisfactory achievement of the product requirements.

The Test Designer uses the contents of the Test Model to produce the following related artifacts:

• other Test Cases
• Test Procedures
• Test Scripts

Tailoring

The Test Cases (contents and format) may require modification to meet the needs of internal or external standards, guidelines, or overviews.

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