What is a Test Suite & Test Case? (with Examples)

In software testing, understanding test suites and test cases is crucial for ensuring comprehensive application validation. Test cases define specific conditions for testing individual components, while test suites group these cases for structured execution.

This article will explore test cases, their creation process, how to organize them into test suites, and the essential elements of test case specifications to ensure thorough testing.

What is a Test Suite?

Test suites are the logical grouping or collection of test cases to run a single job with different test scenarios.

For instance, a test suite for product purchase has multiple test cases, like:

• Test Case 1: Login
• Test Case 2: Adding Products
• Test Case 3: Checkout
• Test Case 4: Logout

A test suite also acts as a container for test cases. It also has multiple stages for specifying the status of the test execution process, like in-progress, active, and completed. It is also known as the validations suite, with detailed information and objectives for different test cases and system configurations required for testing.

Once you create a test plan, test suites are created, which can have multiple test cases.

So, here you can understand a test plan’s micro aspect and how to create a test case.

Key Components of Test Suites

The following are the key components of test suites:

1. Test Cases

Clearly defined scenarios that verify specific functionality of the application. Each test case typically includes a unique ID, description, preconditions, input data, execution steps, expected result, actual result, and pass/fail status.

2. Test Data

Input values used during the execution of test cases. These simulate various user behaviors and system conditions, including valid, invalid, and boundary data to ensure comprehensive coverage.

3. Test Environment Setup

The configuration of hardware, software, network, and system settings required to run the test suite. It ensures consistency and reliability of test results across different executions.

4. Setup and Teardown Procedures

Procedures that prepare the test environment before execution (setup) and clean up afterward (teardown). These help maintain test isolation and prevent interference between tests.

5. Test Scripts

Automated instructions that perform test steps and validations, typically created using tools or frameworks such as Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, or pytest. They enhance efficiency and repeatability in testing.

6. Assertions

Statements used to compare the actual outcome of a test to the expected result. Assertions determine whether a test passes or fails.

7. Test Execution Report

A summary of the results after test execution. This report includes which test cases passed or failed, execution time, and often logs or screenshots to aid in debugging.

8. Test Coverage Metrics

Measurements that indicate the extent to which the code, requirements, or functionalities are tested. Common metrics include code coverage (e.g., line, branch), requirement coverage, and risk-based coverage.

9. Defect Logging/Tracking Integration

Integration with bug tracking systems such as JIRA or Bugzilla. This enables efficient logging of defects found during testing and helps in tracking their resolution.

10. Test Suite Metadata

Descriptive information about the test suite, including author, version, creation or modification dates, purpose, scope, and any dependencies or special instructions.

How to create Test Suites?

Creating a test suite involves organizing and structuring a group of test cases that collectively verify a specific part or the entirety of an application. Below is a structured guide on how to create test suites

1. Understand the Requirements

Analyze the system requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria to determine what features and functionalities need to be tested.

2. Define Objectives of the Test Suite

Establish the goal of the test suite—e.g., functional validation, regression testing, smoke testing, or performance validation.

3. Identify and Select Test Cases

Choose relevant test cases that align with the suite’s purpose. Include positive, negative, edge, and boundary tests.

4. Organize Test Cases Logically

Group test cases based on functionality, modules, or execution priority to ensure clarity and ease of maintenance.

5. Create Test Data

Prepare input data necessary for executing the test cases, ensuring it covers a wide range of realistic and edge-case scenarios.

6. Set Up the Test Environment

Configure all required software, hardware, and network settings to mirror the target deployment environment.

7. Define Setup and Teardown Steps

Specify procedures to initialize the environment before tests and clean it up afterward to maintain test isolation.

8. Implement Automation

Automate repetitive or critical test cases using tools like Selenium, JUnit, or TestNG to improve speed and reliability.

9. Document the Test Suite

Record all relevant information including test suite name, scope, included test cases, test data, environment needs, and instructions.

10. Review and Validate

Conduct peer reviews to ensure accuracy and completeness. Perform a trial run to verify all components function as expected.

11. Execute the Test Suite

Run the test suite manually or using automation. Capture actual results and report discrepancies or defects.

12. Maintain the Test Suite

Update the test suite regularly to reflect changes in requirements, features, or system behavior. Retire outdated cases and add new ones.

What is a Test Case?

It is a sequence of actions necessary to verify a specific functionality or feature of the software. It specifies the prerequisites, post conditions, steps, and data required for feature verification.

The test components contain the input, execution, and expected output that help the QA teams check the feature results and see whether they are working as they should or not. A test case tells the tester what they need to do, in what order and details the outcomes they should expect.

For instance, in a test scenario where you have to check login functionality, one of the test cases can be:

Test Case: Check results when a valid Login Id and Password are entered.

Many more test cases can be created to ensure that every angle is tested for the particular test scenario. Compiling multiple test cases to check the test scenario is called a test suite.

Test Case Form

You must consider certain standard fields when preparing a test case template. The standard test case format contains:

• Test Case ID
• Test Scenario ID
• Test Case Description
• Test Priority
• Prerequisite
• Postrequisite
• Test Data
• Test Execution Steps
• Expected/Intended Results
• Actual Results
• Test Result – Pass/Fail

And multiple important aspects to simplify the test case.

Source softwaretestinghelp

Using a test case template you can create it real-time and execute your software tests.

How to Create a Test Case?

Creating a test case requires describing the test case and the process to ensure that the tester is aware of the test’s purpose. The test case should also include details related to the testing setup, software version, data points, hardware, OS, security clearance, etc.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Test Case Title: Start by giving the test case a clear and concise title that describes the functionality being tested.
• Test Case ID: Assign a unique identifier to the test case for easy tracking.
• Test Objective: Define the test’s purpose, outlining what you aim to validate or verify. This helps testers understand the expected outcome.
• Preconditions: List any requirements that must be met before the test can be executed, such as user permissions, system settings, or data points.
• Test Data: Include the input data needed for the test, such as usernames, passwords, or specific configuration settings.
• Test Steps: Clearly describe the steps the tester should follow to execute the test. Each action should be simple and precise to avoid ambiguity.
• Expected Results: Define the expected outcome when the test is executed correctly. This helps validate whether the software behaves as intended.
• Postconditions: Mention the system’s state after the test is executed, including data changes or system behavior.
• Environment Setup: Specify the environment details, such as the software version, hardware, operating system, and security clearance required to execute the test.
• Test Execution and Results: Document how the test will be executed, who will execute it, and how the results will be recorded.

Best Practices for Writing Test Cases

Easy-to-execute test cases are considered good test cases. They make the testing process more efficient and time-saving.

Here are some best practices you can follow while writing test cases:

• Be Clear and Concise. A good test case must be simple and assertive in describing the tester’s plan of action. It should also be well organized scenario-wise. Understanding the requirements and functionality will help you identify test scenarios and create great test cases.
• Focus on the End-User: To maintain the quality of the software, you need an end-user perspective. Therefore, it’s important to visualize an end user and map test cases to reflect different aspects of the user journey.
• Create self-cleaning Test Cases: Ensure that the test cases revert the test environment to the pre-test state and don’t leave any remnants in the environment once completed.

Apart from these best practices, ensure that the purpose of the particular test case is clear to follow the step-by-step procedures for completing the test.

You can use a test case specification document to get a clear image of your test approach and achieve efficient test results.

Importance of Test Case Specification

A test case is a collection of criteria through which the tester validates whether the software is meeting the expectations of the client or not. Whereas the test case specification is a detailed summary of what specific scenarios will be tested and how you can proceed with the test.

• The test case specification is a document describing a detailed summary of what test scenarios will be tested and how they will be tested.
•  It specifies the test’s purpose, identifies the required step-by-step procedures, input, and desired output, and outlines the pass/fail criteria for determining acceptance.

There are two primary reasons test cases are specified before they are used:

1. The nature of the test case impacts the effectiveness of the test results. Even for a specific criterion, the exact nature of the test cases impacts the testing effectiveness.
2. Writing a test case specification that highlights the errors in programs can be great for increasing testing quality.

Test case specifications are used as a document to check the quality of the test case and the testing result. Learn below what the document contains.

What does a Test Case Specification Document contain?

A test case specification document contains multiple elements, like:

• Test Case Objectives: Purpose of the test.
• Test Items: Requirements, designs, and code specifications required to run a particular test case.
• Input Specifications: Description of what is required to execute the test case.
• Output Specifications: Description of the system after the test case is completed.
• Environmental Needs: Description of special environmental needs like system architectures, hardware, software tools, records, files, interfaces, etc.

Apart from these, there are a few elements that you can include while creating a test case specification document.

How to Create a Test Case Specification Document?

A good test case specification document refers to having a test case and scenario ID with detailed expected output and actual output with proper comments.

Here’s a sample case of testing the login functionality of a web application like Facebook.

Source softwaretestinghelp

You can create one test case specification document based on your testing requirements but keep  checking the important elements.

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Conclusion

Understanding the test case, test suite, and test specification in software testing is highly important to ensure  excellent test coverage. But to achieve better testing results, you must run your software tests on real browsers, devices, and OSes. Even if you can’t access an in-house lab, choose a dedicated cloud-based testing platform like BrowserStack for all your automation needs.