What is test plan?
A test plan describes the scope, approach, resources and schedule for testing a product or release.
It answers what will be tested, how, by whom, in which environments and what counts as done. It also records risks and what is out of scope.
In fast-moving teams the plan is usually lightweight and living, often a short document or a coverage map rather than a long formal specification.
Example
A test plan for a new billing system lists the journeys in scope, the payment providers to test, the environments, the entry and exit criteria and who signs off.
Best practices
- Start from risk: what would hurt most if it broke
- Define entry and exit criteria
- State what is out of scope
- Keep it short and update it as scope changes
Ship without fear.
Start testing free in minutes, or let a QAShift engineer deliver your first morning report within 5 days.