Test Plan – Software Testing

Software testing is important to make sure applications work properly and meet user needs. A clear and detailed test plan is the foundation of successful testing, guiding everything from creating test cases to fixing issues.

In this article, we will break down what a test plan is, why it’s important, and how to create one that leads to better results.

What is a Test Plan?

A test plan is a document that consists of all future testing-related activities. It is prepared at the project level and in general, it defines work products to be tested, how they will be tested, and test type distribution among the testers. Before starting testing there will be a test manager who will be preparing a test plan.

In any company whenever a new project is taken up before the tester is involved in the testing the test manager of the team would prepare a test Plan.

• The test plan serves as the blueprint that changes according to the progressions in the project and stays current at all times.
• It serves as a base for conducting testing activities and coordinating activities among a QA team.
• It is shared with Business Analysts, Project Managers, and anyone associated with the project.

A test plan is a comprehensive document outlining all testing-related activities for a project. It details what will be tested, how, and by whom, serving as a blueprint for testing and coordinating among the QA team. To understand how to create and use a test plan effectively, explore the Complete Guide to Software Testing & Automation by GeeksforGeeks , which provides valuable insights into test planning and management for successful project outcomes.

Types of Test Plan

There are three main types of test plans, each focusing on different levels and aspects of testing:

Types of Test Plan

1. Master Test Plan

A Master Test Plan is a high-level document that outlines the overall testing strategy, scope, and phases for a project. It provides a roadmap for the entire testing process and shows how different levels of testing connect with each other. This plan ensures that all testing activities are aligned and helps keep the project on track.

2. Specific Test Plan

A Specific Test Plan focuses on particular types of testing, like load testing, performance testing, or security testing. It provides detailed instructions and guidelines for carrying out these specialized tests, ensuring that each area is tested thoroughly.

3. Analytical Test Strategies

Analytical Test Strategies are based on specific factors like project requirements, specifications, or risks. For example:

• User Acceptance Testing is based on user requirements to make sure the software meets the needs of the end-users.
• System Testing is based on the technical specifications to check if each part of the system functions correctly.

How to create a Test Plan?

Below are the eight steps that can be followed to write a test plan:

Test Plan creation process

1. Analyze the product

This phase focuses on analyzing the product, Interviewing clients, designers, and developers, and performing a product walkthrough. This stage focuses on answering the following questions:

• What is the primary objective of the product?
• Who will use the product?
• What are the hardware and software specifications of the product?
• How does the product work?

2. Design the test strategy

The test strategy document is prepared by the manager and details the following information:

• Scope of testing which means the components that will be tested and the ones that will be skipped.
• Type of testing which means different types of tests that will be used in the project.
• Risks and issues that will list all the possible risks that may occur during testing.
• Test logistics mentions the names of the testers and the tests that will be run by them.

3. Define test objectives

This phase defines the objectives and expected results of the test execution. Objectives include:

• A list of software features like functionality, GUI, performance standards, etc.
• The ideal expected outcome for every aspect of the software that needs testing.

4. Define test criteria

Two main testing criteria determine all the activities in the testing project:

• Suspension criteria: Suspension criteria define the benchmarks for suspending all the tests.
• Exit criteria: Exit criteria define the benchmarks that signify the successful completion of the test phase or project. These are expected results and must match before moving to the next stage of development.

5. Resource planning

This phase aims to create a detailed list of all the resources required for project completion. For example, human effort, hardware and software requirements, all infrastructure needed, etc.

6. Plan test environment

This phase is very important as the test environment is where the QAs run their tests. The test environments must be real devices, installed with real browsers and operating systems so that testers can monitor software behavior in real user conditions.

7. Schedule and Estimation

Break down the project into smaller tasks and allocate time and effort for each task. This helps in efficient time estimation. Create a schedule to complete these tasks in the designated time with a specific amount of effort.

8. Determine test deliverables

Test deliverables refer to the list of documents, tools, and other equipment that must be created, provided, and maintained to support testing activities in the project.

Why is Test Plan creation important?

The following are some of the key benefits of making a test plan:

• Defines Objectives: A test plan clearly outlines the testing objectives and the scope of testing activities, ensuring that all team members understand what needs to be achieved.
• Structured Approach : It provides a systematic approach to testing, detailing the steps and processes involved, which helps in organizing the testing effort.
• Avoids Scope Creep : By defining what will and will not be tested, the test plan helps manage the scope of testing activities, preventing unnecessary work and focusing on irrelevant areas.
• Resource Allocation : Helps in identifying the necessary resources, including personnel, tools, and environments, ensuring they are available when needed.
• Identifies Risks : A test plan identifies potential risks and outlines mitigation strategies, helping to address issues proactively rather than reactively.
• Contingency Plans : These include contingency plans for dealing with unexpected events or issues that may arise during testing.
• Stakeholder Alignment : Facilitates communication among stakeholders, including developers, testers, project managers, and clients, ensuring everyone is aligned on the testing objectives, approach, and schedule.
• Documentation : Serves as a comprehensive document that can be referred to by all team members, aiding in knowledge sharing and transparency.
• Resource Optimization : Helps in efficiently utilizing available resources, including time and personnel, by providing a clear plan of action.
• Focus on Priorities : Ensures that testing efforts are focused on high-priority areas that are critical to the success of the project.

Objectives of the Test Plan

1. Overview of testing activities: The test plan provides an overview of the testing activities and where to start and stop the work.
2. Provides timeline: The test plan helps to create the timeline for the testing activities based on the number of hours and the workers needed.
3. Helps to estimate resources: The test plan helps to create an estimate of the number of resources needed to finish the work.
4. Serves as a blueprint: The test plan serves as a blueprint for all the testing activities, it has every detail from beginning to end.
5. Helps to identify solutions: A test plan helps the team members They consider the project’s challenges and identify the solutions.
6. Serves as a rulebook: The test plan serves as a rulebook for following rules when the project is completed phase by phase.

Difference between Test Strategy and Test Plan

Components and Attributes of Test Plan

There is no hard and fast rule for preparing a test plan but it has some standard 15 attributes that companies follow:

Components and Attributes of Test Plan

1. Objective: It describes the aim of the test plan, whatever the good process and procedure they are going to follow to give quality software to customers. The overall objective of the test is to find as many defects as possible and to make software bug-free. The test objective must be broken into components and sub-components. In every component following activities should be performed.

• List all the functionality and performance to be tested.
• Make goals and targets based on the application feature.

2. Scope: It consists of information that needs to be tested concerning an application. The scope can be divided into two parts:

• In-Scope: The modules that are to be tested rigorously.
• Out Scope: The modules that are not to be tested rigorously.

Example: In an application A, B, C, and D features have to be developed, but the B feature has already been designed by other companies. So the development team will purchase B from that company and perform only integrated testing with A, B, and C.

3. Testing Methodology: The methods that are going to be used for testing depend on application to application. The testing methodology is decided based on the feature and application requirements. Since the testing terms are not standard, one should define what kind of testing will be used in the testing methodology. So that everyone can understand it.

4. Approach: The approach of testing different software is different. It deals with the flow of applications for future reference. It has two aspects:

• High-Level Scenarios: For testing critical features high-level scenarios are written. For Example, login to a website, and book from a website.
• The Flow Graph: It is used when one wants to make benefits such as converging and merging easy.

5. Assumption: In this phase, certain assumptions will be made.

Example:

• The testing team will get proper support from the development team.
• The tester will get proper knowledge transfer from the development team.
• Proper resource allocation will be given by the company to the testing department.

6. Risk: All the risks that can happen if the assumption is broken. For Example, in the case of wrong budget estimation, the cost may overrun. Some reason that may lead to risk is:

• Test Manager has poor management skills.
• Hard to complete the project on time.
• Lack of cooperation.

7. Mitigation Plan: If any risk is involved then the company must have a backup plan, the purpose is to avoid errors. Some points to resolve/avoid risk:

• Test priority is to be set for each test activity.
• Managers should have leadership skills.
• Training course for the testers.

8. Roles and Responsibilities: All the responsibilities and role of every member of a particular testing team has to be recorded.

Example:

• Test Manager: Manages the project, takes appropriate resources, and gives project direction.
• Tester: Identify the testing technique, verify the test approach, and save project costs.

9. Schedule: Under this, it will record the start and end date of every testing-related activity. For Example, writing the test case date and ending the test case date.

10. Defect Tracking: It is an important process in software engineering as lots of issue arises when you develop a critical system for business. If there is any defect found while testing that defect must be given to the developer team. There are the following methods for the process of defect tracking:

• Information Capture: In this, we take basic information to begin the process.
• Prioritize: The task is prioritized based on severity and importance.
• Communication: Communication between the identifier of the bug and the fixer of the bug.
• Environment: Test the application based on hardware and software.

Example: The bug can be identified using bug-tracking tools such as Jira, Mantis, and Trac.

11. Test Environments: It is the environment that the testing team will use i.e. the list of hardware and software, while testing the application, the things that are said to be tested will be written under this section. The installation of software is also checked under this.

Example:

• Software configuration on different operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, Mac, etc.
• Hardware Configuration depends on RAM, ROM, etc.

12. Entry and Exit Criteria: The set of conditions that should be met to start any new type of testing or to end any kind of testing.

Entry Condition:

• Necessary resources must be ready.
• The application must be prepared.
• Test data should be ready.

Exit Condition:

• There should not be any major bugs.
• Most test cases should be passed.
• When all test cases are executed.

Example of Test Plan: If the team member reports that 45% of the test cases failed, then testing will be suspended until the developer team fixes all defects.

Example of Test Plan

13. Test Automation: It consists of the features that are to be automated and which features are not to be automated.

• If the feature has lots of bugs then it is categorized as Manual Testing.
• If the feature is frequently tested then it can be automated.

14. Effort Estimation: This involves planning the effort that needs to be applied by every team member.

15. Test Deliverables: It is the outcome from the testing team that is to be given to the customers at the end of the project.

Before the testing phase:

• Test plan document.
• Test case document.
• Test design specification.

During the testing phase:

• Test scripts.
• Test data.
• Error logs.

After the testing phase:

• Test Reports.
• Defect Report.
• Installation Report.

It contains a test plan, defect report, automation report, assumption report, tools, and other components that have been used for developing and maintaining the testing effort.

16. Template: This is followed by every kind of report that is going to be prepared by the testing team. All the test engineers will only use these templates in the project to maintain the consistency of the product.

Best Practices for Creating an effective Test Plan

Creating an effective test plan is essential for ensuring a comprehensive and systematic approach to software testing. Here are some best practices to consider when developing a test plan:

1. Understand the Project Requirements:

• Gather Information: Ensure a thorough understanding of both functional and non-functional requirements.
• Stakeholder Input: Involve stakeholders to gather expectations and address specific concerns.

2. Define Clear Objectives and Scope:

• Purpose of Testing : Clearly state the objectives and what you aim to achieve.
• In-Scope and Out-of-Scope: Define what will be tested and what will not, to manage expectations and focus resources.

3. Develop a Comprehensive Test Strategy:

• Approach : Outline the types of testing to be performed (e.g., functional, regression, performance).
• Techniques and Tools: Specify testing techniques (e.g., black-box, white-box) and tools (e.g., Selenium, JIRA) to be used.

4. Create Detailed Test Cases:

• Test Case Design : Develop detailed test cases covering all scenarios, including positive, negative, edge, and boundary cases.
• Traceability : Ensure each test case is traceable to specific requirements to verify comprehensive coverage.

5. Establish a Test Environment:

• Setup Requirements : Define hardware, software, network configurations, and tools required for testing.
• Environment Management: Ensure the test environment closely mirrors the production environment to identify environment-specific issues.

6. Plan for Test Data and Reporting Mechanisms:

• Data Requirements : Identify and manage realistic, consistent test data securely, especially if it includes sensitive information.
• Status Reporting: Establish processes for regular status updates on testing progress, issues, and results, and use defect tracking systems effectively.

Conclusion

A test plan is an important document in software testing that helps re-sure the quality of a software product. It outlines the testing goals, what will be tested, the resources needed, and how testing will be done.

By following best practices like understanding project needs, setting clear goals, and preparing a good testing environment, teams can manage testing better and improve software quality. A good test plan keeps the team focused, makes efficient use of resources, reduces risks, and helps meet stakeholder expectations.