Test plans
Purpose of a test plan
A test plan keeps track of possible tests that will be run on the system after coding. It ensures all requirements are implemented as laid out in the requirements specification.
To avoid bias, a test plan should be created by a member of the design team not involved in the programming or authoring of the project. The plan should be created prior to the creation of the code or application.
For example, an effective test plan for the square function in our coded example would look like this:
| Test Number | Test Description | Test Data | Test Type | Expected result |
| 1 | Testing the input for the square function accepts an integer data type | 4, 8, 5 | Valid | Data will be accepted and return 16, 64, 25 |
| 2 | Testing the input for the square function rejects decimal numbers | 2.2 | Invalid | Data will be rejected with a custom error message |
| 3 | Testing the input for the square function accepts negative numbers | -4 | Valid | Data will be accepted and return 16 |
| 4 | Testing the input for the square function rejects a string | 'test' | Invalid | Data will be rejected and custom error message appears |
| 5 | Testing the time it takes to square a large integer | 120 000, 000 000, 000 | Extreme - Valid | Data will be accepted and result returned |
| Test Number | 1 |
|---|---|
| Test Description | Testing the input for the square function accepts an integer data type |
| Test Data | 4, 8, 5 |
| Test Type | Valid |
| Expected result | Data will be accepted and return 16, 64, 25 |
| Test Number | 2 |
|---|---|
| Test Description | Testing the input for the square function rejects decimal numbers |
| Test Data | 2.2 |
| Test Type | Invalid |
| Expected result | Data will be rejected with a custom error message |
| Test Number | 3 |
|---|---|
| Test Description | Testing the input for the square function accepts negative numbers |
| Test Data | -4 |
| Test Type | Valid |
| Expected result | Data will be accepted and return 16 |
| Test Number | 4 |
|---|---|
| Test Description | Testing the input for the square function rejects a string |
| Test Data | 'test' |
| Test Type | Invalid |
| Expected result | Data will be rejected and custom error message appears |
| Test Number | 5 |
|---|---|
| Test Description | Testing the time it takes to square a large integer |
| Test Data | 120 000, 000 000, 000 |
| Test Type | Extreme - Valid |
| Expected result | Data will be accepted and result returned |