What are use cases used for in testing?

Use cases are essential in testing as they provide a structured method for defining the interactions between a user and a system. They identify how the system should behave in different scenarios and outline the expected outcomes based on specific inputs. This clear framework allows testers to ensure that all functional requirements are being validated during testing.

In the context of test coverage calculation, use cases help identify all the different pathways through an application that need to be tested. By mapping out the various scenarios users might encounter while interacting with the system, testers can ensure that each use case is executed and assessed, thus providing a comprehensive picture of whether the application meets its requirements and functions as intended. This ensures that no essential functionality is overlooked and aids in identifying gaps in the test cases that might need to be supplemented.

The other concepts, while important in their contexts, do not directly align with the primary function of use cases in testing. Measuring code execution time focuses more on performance testing rather than functionality. Identifying potential user errors may relate to usability testing but is not the main purpose of use cases. Assessing development team performance is more about evaluating outputs and efficiency rather than directly linked to the functional testing approach defined by use cases.