How to Write a Test Plan?

Plans for testing the software’s functionality provide an overview of the procedure. A test plan specifies the goal of each activity and lists all the steps necessary to get there.

The strategy also lists the anticipated assets, dangers, and participants in the test. If you want to eliminate bugs and other issues in your software before making it available to users, you should adopt a test strategy. To construct a test plan, adhere to the stages listed below.

1. What does a software testing test plan entail?

A test plan is a written document that describes the methodology, parameters, tools, and timetable for testing a particular software solution or system. It ensures that the program fulfils the necessary criteria for functionality and quality and is a crucial step in the software development process.

The goal of a test plan is to specify the methodology used to test the software and to guarantee that all relevant tests are carried out in a standardized and systematic way. The objectives of the testing, the types of tests that will be run, the environment in which the tests will be conducted, and the resources required to run the tests are all commonly included in a test plan. A list of the persons who will be in charge of conducting the tests as well as a schedule for when the tests will be conducted, may also be included.

The testing team typically develops a test plan, although other stakeholders, including developers, project managers, and business analysts may also contribute to its creation. Before testing starts, it is normally reviewed and approved by the project manager.

A test plan is, in general, a crucial tool for making sure that a software product is of good quality and satisfies the needs of its intended customers. It helps to make sure that the testing procedure is exhaustive, structured, and well-documented, which can ultimately save time and resources.

2. What is the test plan’s content?

A test plan is a written document that describes the methodology, parameters, tools, and timetable for testing a certain software solution or system. Depending on the requirements of the project and the organization, a test plan may have different specific contents, but it typically has the following components:

1. Introduction: The test plan and its goal are briefly described in this section. It might cover things like the test’s objectives, its parameters, and its target audience.
2. The software elements that will be tested, such as specific modules, features, or functionalities, are listed in this section. A description of the test cases that will be run on each test item may also be included.
3. Features to be tested: A thorough list of the particular features or functionality to be evaluated is provided in this section. It might outline the anticipated outcomes as well as the standards for each feature’s adoption.
4. The functionality or features that won’t be tested as part of the current testing effort are listed in this section.    Features that fall outside the testing’s purview or that are deemed too dangerous or low-priority to test at this time may be included in this.
5. The general approach that will be used to test the software is described in this section. Details on the testing environment, the tools and methodologies that will be employed, and the sorts of tests that will be run (such as unit tests, integration tests, acceptance tests, etc.), and these may all be included.
6. The people and resources needed to carry out the tests are listed in this part, including test engineers, testers, and any special tools or equipment that may be necessary.
7. Schedule: The tests will be conducted according to the schedule provided in this section. It might contain information like the start and end times for the testing project as well as a schedule for finishing up specific test cases or test cycles.
8. Hazards and contingencies: This section lists any possible risks or problems that might come up throughout the testing process and describes the contingency measures in place to reduce these risks.
9. Approvals: This section includes a list of the people or organizations that have examined and authorized the test plan.

Overall, a test plan’s contents ought to offer a precise and thorough road map for the testing procedure. It must be customized to meet the unique requirements of the project and the organization, and it must be evaluated and changed as necessary during the testing process.

3. The fundamentals

What you include in your test plan mostly depends on how sophisticated the program is that you intend to test. However, a test plan should always have the following three fundamental sections: Test Coverage, Test Methods, and Test Responsibilities.

Test coverage determines what you will and will not test.

Test methods explain how you will test each component defined in the “coverage” section.

Test duties provide tasks and obligations to various parties. This section should also specify what data each party will collect and how it will be handled and reported.

4. How to Make or Locate a Test Plan Template

It is really beneficial, to begin with, a software test plan template or guideline. If your firm lacks current test plans or standards, test plan samples can be found in books and other industry publications devoted to software testing.

However, I frequently advise caution when simply following any test plan sample you discover online. Test plans, like any other document, can have flaws – in some cases, significant flaws. So, while employing a template, make sure it fulfils your requirements and does not leave out critical information.

ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-3 is the principal worldwide standard for test documentation, such as test plans, test cases, and test procedures. This standard includes standards for both traditional and agile test plans, as well as samples of both types of test plans.

While some people believe that standards are restrictive, they can also be your friend. Standards can provide direction and examples based on many years of industry experience and practice, removing the need to begin your test planning efforts from scratch. Standards must be adjusted to your specific need. As a result, tailoring and adapting the norm is totally acceptable.

Industry associations occasionally offer to distribute test plan templates. If you work in a field like defence, banking, the car industry, or medicine, it is worthwhile to spend time looking into this potential.

5. Include a section on the necessary resources

The hardware, software, testing equipment, and personnel required to accomplish the testing are all covered in this section.

Detail the duties expected of each employee as well as the training required to carry them out when accounting for your workforce.

Make sure to record the specific hardware and software requirements.

6. Include a section on dependencies and dangers

List all the variables and risks that your project depends on at each step. What you test and what you do not test will be influenced by the level of acceptable risk in your project.

Think about how likely different hazards are. The crucial regions require prioritization.

Any ambiguous or unclear requirements should be noted. Users may not understand technical jargon or procedures because they frequently lack the skills to do so.

To assist you in finding places that need additional testing and attention, use your previous “bug” history.

7. Final Reflections

Regardless of how a project is approached during the lifecycle, test planning is a crucial testing activity. Similar to a project plan, a test plan is for testing.

To have the necessary resources available when you need them, planning and preparation are necessary for many testing-related aspects. Some resources, including people and places, could need a lot of planning. These resources are described in the test plan, along with the testing requirements.

8. Plan Types for Tests

Various test plans exist despite having the same framework. The distinction is made based on the unique characteristics of the listed duties and the extent of the job. QA teams frequently use the following taxonomy to be more precise:

1. Unit, integration, system, and acceptance test plans are level-specific test plans.
2. Functional test plans, performance test plans, usability test plans, automation test plans, etc. are examples of type-specific test plans.
3. A thorough QA test plan is the master test plan. It contains high-level data, meticulously maps out the testing procedure, and rarely goes through updates or revisions.

A Master Test Plan is more static than a Test Plan. That is the main distinction. Typically, a project team employs one Master Test Plan and multiple smaller Test Plans for various testing levels or kinds that cover distinct application modules.

You can develop a Test Plan regardless of the kind without utilizing any particular tools. The phrase “Test Plan management tools” can be found, but the language is a little awkward in this case. The only tool required to maintain a test plan is a text editor because it is a document. The majority of the time, folks are actually talking about test management solutions like TestRail, Testpad, QMetry, Kualitee, etc. This confusion may be brought on by Azure DevOps Test Plans, another well-known product.

Conclusion

One of the most fundamental ideas in software testing is the creation of a test plan. But as more efficient life cycles techniques like Agile and DevOps have emerged, the importance of creating test plans and other types of test documentation has frequently been downplayed or completely disregarded. This is sad because a test strategy has a lot of value and can help all projects, regardless of their lifespan, considerably.