Test cases as a shared specification
A strong test case translates one requirement or risk into a repeatable check. It tells another tester what must be true before execution, which actions to perform and which observable outcome counts as success.
In Zeta Test Management, cases live in project context and can be reused in test plans. The reusable case describes the intended check; each execution records what actually happened. This keeps the specification stable while preserving evidence from different cycles.
Names, steps and expected results should remain understandable without relying on the original author.
From design to execution
Review the case before adding it to a plan: remove duplicate steps, make expected results measurable and identify required test data. During execution, record the actual result and relevant evidence in the run rather than silently changing the reusable case.