What is in a test plan?

A test plan is a blueprint that outlines the testing strategy for a software or hardware project. It is a detailed document that describes the scope of testing, resources needed, test environment, and test cases that need to be executed.

A typical test plan includes the following information:

• Objectives: A well-designed test plan should clearly state the specific goals and objectives of the testing process. These objectives should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
• Scope: It should define the scope of testing, including the features and functionality that will be tested, the types of tests that will be conducted (e.g., unit tests, integration tests, acceptance tests), and the test environment (e.g., operating system, hardware, software).
• Resources: The test plan should list the resources needed for testing, including the testing team, testing equipment, and any other resources required (e.g., test data, test scripts, and test cases).
• Test Environment: The test plan should describe the test environment, including the hardware and software configurations, the test data, and any other relevant details.
• Risks and contingency plans: The test plan should pinpoint any risks or issues that may arise during testing and should include contingency plans for addressing those risks.
• Scheduling & Reporting: The scheduling and reporting processes should be carefully planned to ensure that the testing process is efficient and effective and that any issues are identified and addressed in a timely manner.

Overall, a test plan should be created at the beginning of the testing phase of a software development project. It should be developed by the testing team in collaboration with the team lead and the development team and must be thoroughly reviewed and approved by all test manager/stakeholders before testing begins.

For in-depth information on our test plan, take a look at our handy documentation on Test plan tutorial.