What is the difference between a Test Case and a Test Scenario?

Test Scenario:

• High-level description of what to test
• One-liner statement covering multiple test cases
• Derived from use cases or requirements
• Example: “Verify login functionality”

Test Case:

• Detailed step-by-step instructions
• Includes preconditions, test steps, test data, and expected results
• Derived from test scenarios
• Example: “Verify login with valid username and password”

Example Comparison

Test Scenario: Verify user login functionality

Test Cases derived from above scenario:

1. TC001: Login with valid username and valid password
2. TC002: Login with valid username and invalid password
3. TC003: Login with invalid username and valid password
4. TC004: Login with empty username and password fields
5. TC005: Verify “Forgot Password” functionality

Key Difference: A test scenario is “what to test” while a test case is “how to test”.