What does "test case" mean in programming?

test case is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.

Definition

A single, focused test that verifies one specific behavior or scenario. A good test case has a clear description, sets up the necessary state, calls the code under test, and asserts the expected outcome.

Example

"Write a test case for the edge case where the input is an empty string."

Related terms

assertion
unit test
test suite
coverage
mock

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