Updated March 20, 2023
Difference Between Use Case and Test Case
A Use Case helps to describe the method to use it for a particular task. And a Test Case is characterized as a group of test inputs, the conditions of success and the expected results leading to a specific test objective. A case of use is not just a diagrammatic presentation of a document that indicates how a certain task can be performed. If talking about a test case, the program is tested to ensure that the software works according to specifications. Testers create the software.
Head to Head Comparison Between Use Case and Test Case (Infographics)
Below are the top 9 differences between Use Case vs Test Case:
Key Difference Between Use Case and Test Case
Let us discuss some of the major key differences between Use Case vs Test Case:
- The use case gives the view of the functionality, and the test case makes sure the correct execution of that functionality.
- The use case is a set of actions that illustrate the user’s interaction, and a Test case is a set of conditions, inputs, expected output to validate the software.
- The use case is created based on the requirement, and the test case is designed based on the Use Case.
- One use case may give you a complete understanding of software or a software feature, but testing may involve designing multiple test cases.
- The primary purpose of creating a use case is to provide a document through which an objective can be achieved while a test case is intended to check whether the software works as per the requirement or not.
There is also a graphical representation for a use case which helps in easy understanding of the application. Creating a use case and designing test cases sometimes require a little bit of brainstorming.
Use Case vs Test Case Comparison Table
Let’s discuss the top comparison between Use Case vs Test Case:
| Use Case | Test Case |
| A use case is a list of actions or steps that defines interactions between a role (can be a user/external system) and a system to achieve a goal. | A test case is a group of conditions under which a tester will determine whether the developed system is working as per the design. |
| Use cases apply for business purposes as well as to the developers to give a system overview. | Test cases are meant for the testers to test the system. |
| The use case is derived from the System Requirement Specification. | The test case is derived from the use case. |
| The result of the use cases is not verified. | The result of the test case is always gets verified with the expected output. |
| It shows the path of each feature in the system against the user. | It executes each feature’s functionality against each user. |
| Business analysts design use cases by collecting the requirement. | Test cases are designed by either the software analyst, QA team, or by the test engineer. |
| Use cases aren’t dependent on test cases. They work with requirements. | A test case is dependent on use cases as they describe the required steps. |
| The use case interacts with the user. | The test case interacts with the result. |
| The use case isn’t used for execution. Instead, they can be useful in the requirement gathering phase and the design phase of the system. | A test case is executed in the testing phase of the software development life cycle. |
Conclusion
Use cases are designed in the requirement and design phase of the SDLC methodology. A Use Case can help developers in understating the system. Test cases are derived from the use case and used in the testing phase of the SDLC methodology.
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