Q23 of 38 · Test design

What is the difference between a test case, a test scenario, and a test script?

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Short answer

Short answer: A test scenario is a high-level description of what to test (e.g. 'user can log in'). A test case is a specific, structured set of steps, inputs, and expected results. A test script is the automated implementation of a test case.

Detail

Test scenario: a one-line statement of intent, derived from a requirement. It answers "what" to test but not "how." A single requirement can generate many test scenarios.

Test case: a structured artefact with preconditions, numbered steps, input data, and expected results. It is detailed enough for someone unfamiliar with the system to execute it correctly and consistently.

Test script: the code that automates a test case. A test script is a test case expressed in a programming language or DSL rather than prose.

The distinction matters because different team members work at different levels — business analysts sign off on scenarios, testers design cases, and automation engineers write scripts — and confusing the levels leads to under-specified manual tests and over-engineered automation.

// WHAT INTERVIEWERS LOOK FOR

Clear definitions of all three and understanding of when each is appropriate. Knowing that a scenario is directional intent, a test case is executable specification, a script is code.

// Related questions

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Test design