Actual Outcome

What is Actual Outcome?

Actual Outcome also known as actual result, which a tester gets after performing the test.

Actual Outcome is always documented along with the test case during the test execution phase. After performing the tests, the actual outcome is compared with the expected outcome and the deviations are noted. The deviation, if any, is known as defect.

In short, after getting the actual outcome, we can mark whether the scenario is pass or fail.

While developing the test cases, we usually have the following fields:

1. Test Scenario
2. Test Steps
3. Parameters
4. Expected Result
5. Actual Result

Example:

Let us say, that we need to check an input field that can accept maximum of 10 characters.

While developing the test cases for the above scenario, the test cases are documented in the following way. In the below example, the first case is a pass scenario while the second case is a FAIL.

Scenario	Test Step	Expected Result	Actual Outcome
Verify that the input field that can accept maximum of 10 characters	Login to application and key in 10 characters	Application should be able to accept all 10 characters.	Application accepts all 10 characters.
Verify that the input field that can accept maximum of 11 characters	Login to application and key in 11 characters	Application should NOT accept all 11 characters.	Application accepts all 10 characters.

If the expected result don't match with the actual result, then we log a defect. The defect goes through the defect life cycle and the testers address the same after fix.

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