Best Practices for Writing High-Quality Test Scripts

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The software development process has many tasks that you need to achieve to progress to a successful tech product release.

I think that the most crucial aspect here is the testing process. Proper checks assure you that your app will look and function as intended. In my opinion, a robust checking process can save a lot of time and effort on the project overall.

But we need to be efficient in our checking process in order to accomplish this objective.

You can explore a viable solution here. Yes, I am talking about test scripts. It helps power up your checking process by focusing on three main goals.

what to examine,
the method for checking it, and
the expected outcomes.

With such groundwork set up, you can identify flaws or issues quickly. With this advantage, you can resolve bugs and issues. This way, the eventual product delivers stellar success upon market release.

With this post, I will offer a better understanding of test scripts. This will help you excel in software testing.

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What is a Test Script?

A test script is a set of instructions that are executed by a testing tool to test the software’s behavior. In my experience, knowing what is a test script drives software testing success. It makes monotonous work automatic. As a result, you get to save time and decrease mistakes occurring due to human oversight.

Imagine it like the script of a theater play. In both cases, every action and anticipated response is already decided before. This guarantees uniformity and precision in your testing process. This simplifies the task of spotting and rectifying problems.

Also Read: Best Practices in Automation Testing

Components of a Test Script

If you create a test script, you must include some elements to make it useful. Here’s what you should incorporate:

[1] Script ID: Give your script a unique identifier. It will help you keep track of and manage your scripts easily.

[2] Script Description: Describe what your script tests. Here, you should know what the script tries to achieve. This way, others will easily understand what the script intends to do.

[3] Pre-conditions: It lists any conditions that must be met to run the script. It can be things such as user login or application state requirements.

[4] Script Steps: Here, you will describe the steps that you will perform during the test. These steps should be very clear and concise.

[5] Expected Result: You need to describe what will happen after running the script. It is a benchmark for success.

[6] Actual Result: After running the script, it is wise to document what happened. This comparison is necessary to determine the final status of the test.

[7] Status: You need to compare expected and actual results. This will denote if the test passed or failed.

Best Practices for Writing Effective Test Scripts

[1] Keep It Simple: Simplicity is key whenever you write test scripts. You need to break down complex scenarios into smaller, digestible steps. Avoid using too much complex jargon that can confuse you or your team. The scripts should be easy to read and understand. This approach gives you the clarity to execute the test without any delay.

[2] Use Descriptive Names: You should think of self-explanatory test script names. Doing so will help you and other colleagues immediately know about the purpose of that script. Give relevant keywords in the title so you can quickly tell what a script tests. Execution and maintenance are faster with this practice.

[3] Structure Properly: You can organize your test scripts in software testing logically. Make related checks as a group and maintain a consistent format. In my opinion, a modular design will work well here. With this step, you make the job of updating scripts easier when the application changes. You should also ensure a high degree of reuse when you design your scripts.

[4] Regular Reviews and Updates: You need to keep your script relevant. In my opinion, you can accomplish this point with periodic assessments and updates to it. It needs to evolve smoothly with the app's needs. For this, a regular evaluation is mandatory.

Also Read: What is Quality Assurance Automation and it's Benefits

Test Script vs Test Case vs. Test Scenario

You should be clear about the difference between a test script, a test case, and a test scenario. This is a critical aspect of software testing. They all serve in your testing process in their own way.

[1] Test Script: A test script is usually automated instructions written in a programming language. In my experience, writing clear and precise test scripts makes your testing process smooth. Test scripts help you automate repetitive tasks so that there is consistency and accuracy.

[2] Test Case: It’s a detailed description of what you need to test and how you will do it. You define the inputs, the conditions for execution under which something is supposed to be done, and the desired outcomes. At my office, we use test cases to test specific conditions that our software should handle well.

[3] Test Scenario: It is a high-level concept of what you need to test. It gives you a situation you want to validate without getting into specifics. In my opinion, test scenarios allow you to think about other possible use cases and user interactions. They give you an idea of how to make complete test cases and scripts.

Understanding these differences will help you better organize your testing efforts.

Also Read: Codeless Automation Testing Tools

Example Test Script

Here’s an example test script to show you how to organize your checking process and get things done correctly. Here, we would be verifying the login functionality of a web application.

Script ID: TS001: Description: This script tests whether users can log in with valid credentials.

Script Steps-

Open the web browser: Launch your preferred web browser.
Navigate to the login page: Enter the application’s login page URL.
Enter username: Type testUser into the username field.
Enter password: Type ’testPassword’ into the password field.
Click on the “Login” button: Submit your credentials by clicking the login button.
Verify redirection: Check if you are redirected to the homepage.

Expected Result: You should see the homepage displayed. This action will confirm a successful login.

Actual Result- (To be filled after execution)

Status: (Pass/Fail based on your findings.)

This strategy helps you ensure amazing clarity in noting each and every step. This effort will make your work easy when performing and managing test scripts later on. When you adhere to this format, you can improve the effectiveness and accuracy of your checking process.

Conclusion

Test scripts in software testing enable better results in the development process. You would be able to better align the product with stakeholder expectations. With well-articulated scripts, you will ensure a greater degree of consistency. It will also help you maintain the superior quality of the product. Your grasp of writing effective test scripts will propel your skills in software checking.

It is a good idea to factor in clarity and reusability when articulating the lines of the script. In my experience, a good amount of practice will help you a lot. Also, do not hesitate to refine your scripts as you gain more experience in this interesting space.

Do you want to enhance your testing abilities? You can check out our complete Automation Testing Course at StarAgile. It offers the learning of expert skills and methodologies for effective testing.

Also Read: Automation Testing

FAQs

1. What is the difference between a test script and a test plan?

The test plan seeks to document the overall strategy for evaluating a software application. You will know more about the goals and scope of the test with this plan. It will also highlight the resources and timelines involved. On the other hand, a test script is a set of instructions to run automated tests.

The test plan provides a high-level overview of the testing process. The script deals with detailing how to check specific functionality or features of the app. This distinction will help you grasp which of these to use at what stage. It will also help you understand how these two distinct elements meet totally different goals.

2. Do I need coding skills to write an automated test script?

It is true the prior programming knowledge will help you write automated scripts. You will need to use coding languages like Java or Python to develop superior-quality test scripts. However, you have a viable alternative in case your programming skills are not too extensive. You can use automation tools that come with user-friendly interfaces. Such solutions will make it easy for you to write scripts without any coding experience. So, if you know the basics of coding, you will be able to troubleshoot and optimize your scripts.

3. What are the most common mistakes to avoid when writing test scripts?

It is possible that you will forget to update your script after applying a change to the app. This is a common mistake associated with the scripting process. This problem makes the script too complicated. It might even leave unwanted gaps in exception handling. You should not hardcode any values that can easily be updated. You should strive to keep the scripts simple and revisit them from time to time. Doing so will help you avoid these pitfalls. Plus, you would be able to ensure accurate results of the checks.

4. Can test scripts be reused across different projects?

Yes, it is possible to reuse test scripts for various projects if they are made generically. You may commence by dividing your scripts into modules and concentrating on common functions. In doing this, you can change them according to different applications. Based on my experience, this method saves a lot of time. Plus, you can ensure consistency in testing processes across all the projects.

5. How often should you update test scripts?

You should update your test scripts as soon as the software changes and affects your testing functionality. This usually means reviewing and potentially updating your scripts at the beginning of each new development sprint or release cycle.

You also need to check your scripts when evaluating the app. This way, you can update your scripts as soon as you detect any problem or inefficiency in your scripts. Impactful checking of your test scripts will depend on their regular upkeep.

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