A tester without documentation is like a tourist without a navigator: they may be going somewhere, but not necessarily where they need to.
Test documentation is the foundation of structured, transparent, and reproducible testing. It helps the team understand what, why, and how is being tested, what risks exist, and what has already been checked.
Why do we even need test documentation?
Many say: “Documentation is boring, we’re Agile, we only write code!”
But in practice, it:
- Helps not to forget anything important
- Allows others (or you in a month) to understand what has already been tested
- Serves as proof of quality for the customer or regulators
- Provides traceability between bugs, requirements, and tests
Documentation is not about “bureaucracy,” it’s about quality control.
Main Types of Test Documentation
Here’s the tester’s “library” - a set of documents you’ll deal with one way or another if you want to be systematic and useful to the team.
1. Test Plan
What it is: a strategic document that describes testing goals, scope, resources, timelines, and approach. Essentially - a battle plan.
Includes:
- Test object
- Scope and boundaries
- Approach and types of testing
- Environment, tools
- Responsible parties
- Risks and contingency plan
Why it’s needed: to align expectations, provide transparency to the team and the customer.
2. Test Cases
What it is: step-by-step scenarios for verifying functionality. A concrete instruction: what, with what, and how we test, and what result we expect.
Includes:
- Title
- Preconditions
- Steps
- Expected result
- Actual result (during execution)
Why it’s needed: to reproducibly verify functionality and not forget important scenarios.
3. Checklists
What it is: a lighter format than test cases. Just a list of things to check, without step-by-step instructions.
Example:
- Check login with valid credentials
- Check redirect after logout
- Check error display with empty password
Why it’s needed: when you need to quickly cover a large scope without details.
4. Bug Reports
What it is: descriptions of discovered defects. These are error reports: where, under what conditions, and how the bug manifests. A good bug report is half the success in fixing it.
Includes:
- Bug title
- Steps to reproduce
- Expected and actual result
- Screenshots/logs (if needed)
- Environment (browser, device, version)
- Priority/severity
Why it’s needed: so the developer can reproduce the bug and clearly understand what’s wrong.
5. Test Reports
What it is: a record of what was tested and what conclusions were reached.
Types:
- Smoke/regression report
- Final release report
- Requirement coverage report
Why it’s needed: to show the quality status of the product at a specific point in time.
6. Traceability Matrix
What it is: a table showing which requirements are covered by which test cases. Helps visualize whether everything is tested and which requirements are not covered.
Why it’s needed: to control coverage and ensure transparency of testing.
7. Test Strategy
What it is: the global approach to testing a product or company.
Usually created at the team or organization level. Describes philosophy, tools, processes, types of testing, and quality control.
Why it’s needed: a unified style and understanding of how the product is tested within the company.
What to Use in Real Projects?
It’s not necessary to always use all types of documents. Combine them:
- In a startup - checklists and bugs in Notion are enough
- In an enterprise project with a customer - a full plan, cases, and reports are required
- In CI/CD - you can automate report creation, but the base will remain
The main thing is not to overload, but also not to lose control.