Test script
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A test script in Software Testing is a set of instructions that will be performed on the System Under Test to test that the system functions as expected. These steps can be executed manually or automatically.
There are various means for executing test scripts.
- Short program written in a programming language used to test part of the functionality of a software system. Test scripts written as a short program can either be written using a special automated functional GUI test tool (like HP QuickTest Professional or Rational Software) or in a well-known programming language (such as C++, C#, Tcl, Expect, Java, PHP, Perl, Python, or more recently, Ruby).
- Extensively parameterized short programs a.k.a. Data-driven testing
- Reusable steps created in a table a.k.a. keyword-driven - or table-driven testing
[edit] Automated Testing
Automated testing has a major advantage in that these types of tests may be executed 24/7 without the need for a continuous presence of people. Another advantage over manual testing in that it is easily repeatable, and thus is favoured when doing regression testing. This however is not always the case as automated tests may be poorly written and can break during playback. Since most systems are designed with human interaction in mind, it is good practice that a human tests the system at some point. It is worth considering automating tests if they are to be executed several times, for example as part of regression testing. However one shouldn't fall in to the trap of spending more time automating a test then it would take to simply execute it manually, unless it is planned to be executed several times.
