What is the difference in Test Case and Test Scenarios?

What is the difference in Test Case and Test Scenarios?

Most probably you have encountered this question either in your interviews or while discussing with your friends or colleagues. Although this might simple but requires deep understanding of different concepts involved in software testing and at the end this improves the quality of a product.


What is a test case?

Its a single narrow aspect of software or program that is being tested. This aspect deals with a particular feature or functionality and its one of the ways using which we can validate or test it whether its working as expected or not.

Test case can include:

  1. Test Scenario
  2. Test steps
  3. Expected result
  4. Actual result
  5. Test status
  6. Pre conditions
  7. Post conditions etc.

A document which contains multiple test cases can be called as a test plan.

Test cases can provide following details:

  1. Detailed understanding of how a requirement is tested
  2. How these tests are performed
  3. What is being tested
  4. What is the expected status for this test


How to write test cases?

  • Determine the scope for test cases
  • Test cases should be easily understandable
  • Use test strategies to reduce repetitions
  • Use RTM to track the test coverage for BRS
  • Describe pre & post conditions
  • Always mention expected result
  • Provide necessary test steps to complete the execution of a test


Note: Test cases should be designed in such a way that it can serve as documentation for a product. Which can easily explain what are the key areas of an application. How those work and what does not.

What is a test scenario?

Test scenarios deal with an overview of actions to be taken to test a feature or functionality. These can be detailed enough to understand "What" is being tested. But it does not provide enough details about "How" its tested.

How to write test scenarios?

  • Refer the requirements documentation such as SRS, FRS, BRS
  • Identify what are the technical specifications required
  • Identify what all user actions can be taken and convert those to executable scenarios
  • Use RTM to track the requirements are tested or not
  • Explore the application/feature/functionality
  • Analyse the end-user cases

What are the key difference in Test cases and scenarios

  1. Test scenarios provides an overview about "What" is being tested whereas test cases provide detailed elaboration of a test scenario
  2. Quick difference - Scenarios focus on "What" whereas Test cases focus on "How" its tested
  3. Test scenarios are major events whereas test cases are simple procedures
  4. Test scenarios are formulated using BRS, FRS or SRS whereas multiple test cases can be created using a single test scenario



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#japneetsachdeva


Amarendra Pani

"Senior QA Lead with 10+ Years of Experience | Mastering Excellence in Software Quality & Elevating Team Dynamics"

2 周

?Understanding the difference between test cases and test scenarios is so useful, especially in agile. i will definatly check this. Thanks for creating and sharing Japneet Sachdeva

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