Purpose & Advantages of Test Plan

TEST PLAN

• The test plan keeps track of possible tests that will be run on the system after coding.
• The test plan is a document that develops as the project is being developed.
• Record tests as they come up
• Test error prone parts of software development.
• The initial test plan is abstract and the final test plan is concrete.
• The initial test plan contains high level ideas about testing the system without getting into the details of exact test cases.
• The most important test cases come from the requirements of the system.

• When the system is in the design stage, the initial tests can be refined a little.
• During the detailed design or coding phase, exact test cases start to materialize.
• After coding, the test points are all identified and the entire test plan is exercised on the software.

Purpose of Software Test Plan:

• Test Plan Ensures all Functional and Design Requirements are implemented as specified in the documentation.
• To provide a procedure for Unit and System Testing.
• To identify the documentation process for Unit and System Testing.
• To identify the test methods for Unit and System Testing.

Advantages of test plan

• Serves as a guide to testing throughout the development.
• We only need to define test points during the testing phase.
• Serves as a valuable record of what testing was done.
• The entire test plan can be reused if regression testing is done later on.
• The test plan itself could have defects just like software!

In software testing, a test plan gives detailed testing information regarding an upcoming testing effort, including

• Scope of testing
• Schedule
• Test Deliverables
• Release Criteria
• Risks and Contingencies