Use Case

What is a Use Case?

A use case is a tool in software development that helps explain how users interact with a system to reach a specific goal. It outlines the steps a user (called an actor) takes to complete a task with the system. Use cases make it easier to understand what the system should do from the user’s perspective.

Every use case contains three essential elements:

Actor: The person or system that interacts with the system (for example, a customer or an admin).

Goal: The specific outcome the actor wants to achieve.

System: The processes and steps the system follows to help the actor reach their goal.

Example:

Imagine an online store where a customer wants to buy a product.

  • The actor is the customer.

  • The goal is to complete a purchase.

  • The system manages the shopping cart, payment processing, and order confirmation.


Why Use Cases Are Important

  • They clearly organize and explain system requirements.
  • They help identify potential problems or errors early.
  • They serve as a basis for creating test cases.
  • They are easy for everyone—developers, testers, and business people—to understand.
  • They help prevent unnecessary or out-of-scope features.
  • They guide project planning, writing user manuals, and testing.
Writing use cases is important because they clearly show how users interact with a system and what the system must do. They help catch problems early, guide testing, and keep projects focused on real user needs, leading to better software and smoother development.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Non-Functional Testing

Black Box Testing and White Box Testing

Use case vs Test Case