Test automation, as well as manual one, undergoes well if the test cases are correctly described. Manual testing has a range of problems during the tests writing. Manual tests are created for people, this fact defines their specifics.
Creating the tests for manual execution, one may use the natural language, the formal language, the approach based on key-words or other methods.
Each of Methods has Its Advantages and Disadvantages:
- The natural language. It is comprehensible for people, but every creator of the tests has his personal style; different companies have their own rules of test cases writing; that is why there is always the possibility for various interpretations of the tests written in the natural language.
- The formal language. It is designed to the tools and computers. Its advantages are that it is standard and it does not allow changing the format of tests writing. Therefore, the possibility for different interpretations is reduced. But people find it difficult to read and understand such language.
- The key-words-based approach. It can be used as a compromise of natural and formal languages. But the testers should learn the key-words or use the notes. This makes functional testing, cross-browser testing, user interface testing, etc., more time-consuming.
That is why it is necessary to thoroughly study the project and on the basis of its specifics to select the language and approach which will make software testing profitable and effective.