How to create a Test Scenario?

Testing is a critical phase in the software development lifecycle that ensures the quality and reliability of an application. Creating test scenarios provides a systematic approach to verify whether the software under the test works as expected. In this blog, we will examine what test scenarios are, why they are important, and how to create them effectively.

What Is Test Scenario?

A test scenario is a detailed description of a specific situation that the software may encounter during testing. It specifies the conditions, actions, and expected results that examine a particular aspect of a particular software. Test scenarios help evaluate the functionality, performance, and usability of software by providing a comprehensive, repeatable and objective approach. 

Why Are Test Scenarios Important?

Test scenarios ensure that the testing process covers various aspects of the software, including features, user interactions, and potential corner scenarios. Well-defined test scenarios make it easier to reproduce issues and verify whether they have been fixed after development. Test scenarios provide traceability between the requirements and the testing process and verify whether the software meets its specifications. You can also allocate testing resources effectively and perform tests more systematically by creating a structured set of test scenarios.

When to not use Test Scenarios?

It is not necessary to create and use Test Scenarios in the following situations:

In case of a time crunch or when testing an unstable website or app. Creating detailed test scenarios takes time and creating them for unstable software makes no sense because they will change as the software stabilizes.

When a project follows the Agile methodology of development.

When implementing a bug fix or regression tests. If this occurs, there will already be existing documentation from previous test cycles that can be used.

Steps to Create Effective Test Scenarios

• First, begin to understand in detail the requirements, user stories, and design features that make up the project. This forms the basis for creating test scenarios compatible with the intended functionality of the software.
  
  Example: Let’s say you’re testing a user registration form for a website. The requirement states that users must enter their name, email, password and accept the terms.
  
• Break the software into its functional components and identify the features and functions that need to be tested. This step helps you prioritize and organize your testing effort.
  
  Example: For the user registration form, you might identify the following test scenarios:
  
  Valid user registration (all fields filled correctly).
  Registration with a missing email.
  Registration with a weak password.
  Registration with an already used email.
  Registration without agreeing to the terms and conditions.
  
• For each feature or function, clearly define the purposes you want to test. These objectives will guide your creation of test scenarios.
• Determine the data inputs and conditions required to execute each test scenario. This should include valid and invalid data, bounds, and corner scenarios.
• Clearly state the steps the tester must take to execute each test scenario. Clearly indicate what actions were taken and what data was entered.
  
  Example:
  
  Test Scenario: Valid user registration
  
  Navigate to the registration page.
  Fill in a unique name.
  Provide a valid email address.
  Choose a strong password.
  Agree to the terms and conditions. Click the “Register” button.
  
• Clearly state the expected results for each test scenario. This should include both types of results, including what should happen when the software works correctly (positive results) and what should happen when there is a problem (negative results).
  
  Example:
  
  Test Scenario: Valid user registration
  
  Expected Outcome: The user is successfully registered, and a confirmation email is sent to the provided email address.
  
• Specify the preconditions that must be met before each test scenario can run and the postconditions that must be present when the scenario is completed.
  
  Example:
  
  Test Scenario: Registration with an already used email
  Preconditions: An existing user with the same email already registered.
  Expected Outcome: The system should display an error message indicating that the email is already in use.
  
• Review and refine test scenarios in collaboration with the development team, product owners, and other stakeholders. Make sure these scenarios align with the project’s goals and requirements.
• Group test scenarios logically, such as by feature, functional area, or priority. This makes it easier to plan and execute tests efficiently.
• Maintain clear, well-organized documentation for all test scenarios, making this documentation accessible to the testing team. These documents should be up to date as the project evolves.
  
  Example: Here’s how you could document your test scenario for registration with a weak password:
  
  Test Scenario: Registration with a weak password
  Test Steps:
  Navigate to the registration page.
  Fill in a unique name.
  Provide a valid email address.
  Choose a weak password (less than 8 characters).
  Agree to the terms and conditions.
  Click the “Register” button.
  Expected Outcome: The system should display an error message indicating that the password is too weak.

Best Practices for Test Scenario Creation

• Keep test scenarios simple and focused to ensure clarity.
• Use a consistent format and naming convention for test scenarios.
• Ensure that test scenarios are independent, so they can be executed in any order.
• Avoid redundancy by reusing test scenarios when applicable.
• Continuously update and adapt test scenarios as the software evolves.

The Role of Real Devices in Test Scenarios

In the creation and execution of test scenarios, real devices play a crucial role in assessing the performance, compatibility, and usability of software and applications. These real devices are used to understand how software behaves in real-world conditions, such as different physical platforms and operating systems.

Be it manual testing or automated Selenium testing, actual devices cannot be considered in the testing equation. The pool of devices to be tested should include not only the latest devices but also older devices that are still active on the market. The more devices the tests can run on, the better, because in a highly fragmented environment, it can be unpredictable which device will be used to access a website or application.

BrowseEmAll provides automated testing on 3000+ desktop & mobile browser at Studio Version. You can access these devices whenever and wherever you want in the world.  
Enables your developers and testers to locate and fix browser specific problems right on their machine.

Jump start your test automation with our Record & Play technology or run your existing test suite using the configuration less Selenium integration.

The tests are recorded in a specialized version of Google Chrome. Later on you can execute these tests against all browsers supported by this application.

You can also view more detailed examples here.

Photo by DaveBlesadale