Example usage
The testware for a release of a CRM system includes the test plan, the test cases and test scripts, the test data (such as sample customer records), the expected results, the set-up and clear-up procedures, and the test environment configuration. When a new tester joins the team mid-release, the testware is what lets them understand and reproduce the testing: it is everything produced during the test process that is required to plan, design, and execute the tests.
FAQ
Is testware just test cases? No. Testware includes all artifacts produced during the test process: documentation, scripts, inputs, expected results, set-up and clear-up procedures, files, databases, environment configuration, and any additional software or utilities used in testing.
Why is testware important? It is the reusable output of the test process. Good testware makes testing repeatable, maintainable, and auditable — and it is what allows regression testing to run again after every change.
Is testware the same as test data? Test data is one part of testware. The term covers the whole set of artifacts needed to plan, design, and execute tests.
Who owns testware? The test team, but it must be managed like any other project artifact — versioned, reviewed, and stored so it survives personnel changes and can be reused across releases.
Related terms
- test case — the core executable artifact of testware
- test script — automated testware
- test data — the inputs used during test execution
- test environment — the infrastructure testware runs against
- test tool — software supporting the test process
- test automation — the use of tools to execute testware automatically
