Test Plan vs Test Strategy - Testing Differences

Test plan and test strategy are two essential components of the software testing process. Although both are necessary, they serve different purposes. In this tutorial, we will explore the differences between test plan and test strategy.

Understanding Test Plan and Test Strategy

Syntax:

A test plan is a document that outlines a testing approach and defines the test cases, test objectives, and the testing schedule. It is a comprehensive view of testing requirements, test deliverables, testing scope, and the overall approach.

A test strategy, on the other hand, is a high-level document that defines the testing objectives and outlines the testing methods and techniques to be used. It also describes the testing approach that will be taken, considering the project's scope and constraints.

Example:

Let's assume that we are working on developing a new software application. Here are examples of test plan and test strategy:

A Test Plan might include:

• Overview of the application and its features
• Testing environment and tools
• Test objectives and scope
• Test deliverables
• Testing approach, including test scenarios and test cases
• Test schedule

A Test Strategy might include:

• Overview of the testing objectives
• Testing methods and techniques to be used
• Level of automation and manual testing
• Test environment and tools
• Risks and constraints
• Roles and responsibilities

Output:

The test plan and test strategy documents provide an outline that helps testers in planning, executing, and reporting the testing process.

Explanation:

Test plan and test strategy are two different documents that play a vital role in software testing. A test plan defines the scope, objectives, and testing schedule, while a test strategy outlines the testing methods and techniques to be used, considering the project's scope, constraints, and risks.

The test plan provides a detailed view of the overall testing requirements, while the test strategy is a high-level document that provides an overview of the testing approach.

Use

Test plan and test strategy documents are useful in guiding the software testing process. Both documents help ensure that the testing activities are planned and executed properly and help to identify and mitigate risks.

Important Points

• A test plan defines the scope, objectives, and testing schedule, while a test strategy outlines the testing methods and techniques to be used.
• The test plan is a comprehensive view of the testing process, while the test strategy is a high-level document that provides an overview of the testing approach.
• Both documents are essential for guiding the software testing process.

Summary

In this tutorial, we learned about the differences between test plan and test strategy. We covered the syntax, example, output, explanation, use, and important points to provide a better understanding of the role of each document in the software testing process. By using both documents, the testing process can be planned and executed properly, and risks can be identified and mitigated.