Scripts

In a programming context Scripts are a type of programming language which are run, or executed, by another program. For example, Java Script is run by the Web browser which is running on the user's PC.

In the context of System Testing and User Acceptance Testing, scripts are used as the pre-determined input data to test the system. Scripts should not only state the precise data to be input, but also the expected response from the system. As User Acceptance Testing proceeds, the results from running the scripts will be recorded, as will the overall system conditions at the time to allow developers to more easily debug errors.

Scripts can take the form of input data sheets for manual input, or can be a series of files, the processing of which simulates the generation of transactions across the network to the system. This latter approach can allow for significant volumes to be processed. However, it is essential to proceed carefully as errors can so easily compound making analysis a nightmare!