Test Case Review Process in Software Testing

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Test Case Review Process in Software Testing

In this article, I am going to discuss Test Case Review Process in Software Testing. Please read our previous article where we discussed the Test Plan for Software Testing. At the end of this article, you will understand the following important pointers which are related to Test Case Review Process in Software Testing.

1. What is Test Case Review Process in Software Testing?
2. Why Analyze Test Cases?
3. What is Test Case Repository?
4. What are the Benefits of Test Case Repository?
5. Explain Test Case Review Process in Software Testing
6. What are the Techniques for Test Case Review?
7. What Factors to Consider During Test Case Review?
8. What are the Common Mistakes During Test Case Review?
9. How to Classify Defects Based on the Test Case Review?
10. What are the Tips to Follow While Reviewing Test Cases?
11. What are the Advantages of the Test Case Review Process in Software Testing?
12. What are the Disadvantages of the Test Case Review Process in Software Testing?

What is Test Case Review Process in Software Testing?

Test cases developed for a software program or system are evaluated and looked through as part of a quality assurance activity called test case review. A collection of stakeholders, including testers, developers, business analysts, and other pertinent team members, analyze the test cases as part of a collaborative process. Reviewing test cases is done to make sure they are correct, well-designed, and efficient at confirming the software’s functionality. The test cases are examined throughout the review to determine whether they are comprehensive, accurate, clear, and appropriate for achieving the desired test objectives.

Why Analyze Test Cases?

Any work product that is considered a deliverable should undergo peer review. This group includes test cases, which are crucial deliverables for the testing team. Writing strong test cases that successfully find as many flaws as possible during the testing process is essential. Here, are some points:

• The requirement is correctly understood, and test cases are created with the goal of finding errors.
• Potential effect zones are defined and tested.
• The test data is accurate and covers every imaginable domain class. Both favorable and unfavorable circumstances exist.
• Accurate documentation exists for the desired behavior.
• There is enough test coverage.

What is Test Case Repository?

It pays off handsomely to keep test cases organized, especially in medium- to large-scale projects. Testing is a process that can also be repeated. Since it saves time, the reuse of test cases is advantageous to all parties. For testing, projects’ major components can be repeated. By keeping a test case repository, one can reuse previous test resources as needed, which reduces the amount of time spent on testing. The good news is that it’s not at all challenging to maintain a well-organized test case repository. A software testing team’s effectiveness is frequently correlated with the number and variety of test cases that form the cornerstone of testing cycles. The assimilation of test cases may require a large amount of time and work, with each application’s test case repository being the primary goal. To ensure that all system and user interactions are covered, test cases in the repository cover all necessary permutations and combinations in workflow execution and transaction.

• A test case repository is a single location where all baseline test cases (which have been created, evaluated, and approved) are kept.
• The developer starts building the modules as soon as the client receives the specifications, and the test engineer starts creating the test cases.
• A test case repository houses the authorized test cases.
• If a test engineer wants to test the application, they must obtain the test case from the test case repository.
• If we no longer require a test case, we can delete it from the repository.
• Each version has its own collection of test cases.
• Test cases cannot be modified or amended after they have been baselined or saved in the test case repository without the test lead’s approval.
• The testing team always has a complete backup of the test case repository in case there is a crash that impacts the product.

What are the Benefits of Test Case Repository?

A test case repository has a number of advantages, including the following:

• Any new information can be added to the repository.
• Reduces time.
• Testers’ ability to write test cases is assessed based on their performance.
• Coverage.
• Supports reporting.
• Traceability.
• Charts that show the test case status (pass, fail, or not tested) can be made.
• Can help with the creation of new, related products.
• From one tester to the next, less information is passed.

Explain Test Case Review Process in Software Testing

The list of tasks that make up the review process is as follows:

• Planning: This phase’s first step entails the author asking for a moderator to oversee the review procedure. The moderator is in charge of setting the review’s date, time, location, and invitation. The entry check is carried out to ensure that there aren’t many faults and that the document is prepared for review. The author and moderator pick which section of the document will be reviewed when it passes the entry check.
• Kick-Off: This review process phase is optional. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a brief overview of the documents and review’s objectives of each participant.
• Preparation: Using the offered associated materials, guidelines, checklists, and rules, the reviewers examine the document. Each participant recognizes the errors, queries, and comments during the review process in accordance with their comprehension of the document.
• Review Meeting: There are three stages to the review meeting.

1. The Phase of Logging: Each page of the preparation phase’s issues and faults is logged. An author or scribe performs the logging; a scribe is a person who performs the logging. Every flaw should be recorded together with its severity.
2. Discussion Phase: Any defects that require discussion will be recorded and addressed during this phase. The discussion’s conclusion is recorded for reference in the future.
3. The Phase of Decision-Making: The participants must reach a decision regarding the document under consideration.

• Rework: The document must be redone if the number of errors per page exceeds a particular threshold.
• Follow-Up: The moderator confirms that the author has addressed all apparent flaws.

What are the Techniques for Test Case Review?

A test case review can be carried out using one of three methods:

• Self-Review: The tester who created the test cases performs this. He can determine whether or not all requirements are met by checking at SRS/FRD.
• Peer Review: This is carried out by a different tester who hasn’t created the test cases and isn’t familiar with the system being tested. There are two additional names for the same thing: Maker and Checker.
• Supervisory Review: Supervisory review is carried out by a team lead or manager who is more senior than the tester who created the test cases and who is well-versed in the specifications and workings of the system being tested.

What Factors to Consider During Test Case Review?

When reviewing test cases, some things to keep in mind are:

1. Are test cases created with the goal of discovering bugs? The testing specifications—are they clear?
2. Determine the areas that could have an impact and test them.
3. The anticipated outcome or behavior is accurately recorded.
4. The test data is accurate and includes every conceivable domain class. Verify that both positive and negative possibilities are covered by the test results.
5. Maximize test coverage, if possible.

What are the Common Mistakes During Test Case Review?

Among the common errors you should avoid when reviewing test cases are:

• Spelling mistakes should be avoided because they can cause confusion and make sentences hard to grasp.
• Grammar: Poor grammar leaves room for test cases to be misinterpreted, which could produce inaccurate results.
• Replication: If any test cases were duplicates, remove them. You can combine multiple test cases that perform the same action into one to save time and space.
• Standard/Guidelines: During the test case review process, it is essential to verify that all standards and rules are being followed.
• Redundancy: It is desirable to remove test cases that are no longer relevant due to requirements changes.
• Languages: Test cases need to be clear and concise.
• Format of Template: Following the correct template format will make it simple for you to later add or edit the test cases, and they will also appear more organized.

How to Classify Defects Based on the Test Case Review?

If the checklist is used correctly and any flaws are found, you must categorize them using the following categories:

1. No test results
2. Unfinished test cases
3. Inaccurate test results
4. Typos
5. Incoherent words wrongly anticipated behavior
6. Grammatical errors
7. Incomplete outcomes
8. Negative test cases are absent

What are the Tips to Follow While Reviewing Test Cases?

Keep these recommendations in mind while you analyze the test cases:

• Version numbers should be used during the review process. For instance, designate the test case as v.1 if you are examining it for the first time. Mark it as v.1.1 once the modifications have been made and thoroughly assessed. This makes it easier to determine which test case was run most recently, and the full history of the changes will be preserved.
• Make sure the tester understands the procedure by having a face-to-face meeting with them.
• To better comprehend the outcomes and steps involved in the test execution, run the test cases on the System Under Test (SUT).
• During the review process, keep a copy of the SRS/FRD on hand for reference.
• It is best to consult with your customer or your test lead before moving on if you are unsure about a test case and its anticipated outcome.

What are the Advantages of the Test Case Review Process in Software Testing?

The benefits of the Test Case Review Process are:

1. Improved Quality: Reviewing test cases helps identify defects, errors, and omissions early on, leading to higher-quality software.
2. Enhanced Test Coverage: Reviewing test cases allows for a comprehensive examination of test scenarios, ensuring maximum coverage and minimizing the risk of undiscovered bugs.
3. Knowledge Sharing: The review process facilitates knowledge sharing among team members, fostering collaboration and enabling the transfer of domain expertise.
4. Consistency and Standardization: By reviewing test cases, teams can ensure that testing practices adhere to established standards and guidelines, promoting consistency across the testing process.
5. Early Issue Identification: Reviewing test cases uncovers issues before actual execution, saving time and effort in the long run and reducing the probability of critical bugs reaching production.

What are the Disadvantages of the Test Case Review Process in Software Testing?

The drawbacks of the Test Case Review Process are:

1. Time-Consuming: Test case review processes can be time-consuming, especially for large projects or complex systems. It requires dedicated resources and may cause delays in the testing phase.
2. Human Error: Test case reviews involve human judgment, which can be prone to errors. Reviewers may overlook important aspects or make subjective judgments that affect the quality of the test cases.
3. Limited Perspectives: Test case reviews are typically conducted by a limited group of reviewers, which means that they may miss potential issues or alternative approaches that could be identified by a broader range of perspectives.
4. Lack of Standardization: Without proper guidelines or standards, test case reviews can vary in quality and consistency. Inconsistent reviews may result in inconsistent test coverage or redundant efforts.
5. Resistance to Feedback: Reviewers or test case authors may be resistant to receiving or implementing feedback. This can hinder the effectiveness of the review process and prevent improvements in the test cases.

In the next article, I am going to discuss Requirement Traceability Matrix in Software Testing. Here, in this article, I try to explain Test Case Review Process in Software Testing. I hope you enjoy this Test Case Review Process in Software Testing article.