Description: A ‘Use Case’ is a technique used in software development that describes how a user interacts with a system to achieve a specific goal. It is presented as a list of actions or steps of events that detail the interactions between a role (or actor) and the system. Use cases are fundamental for understanding system requirements, as they allow developers and stakeholders to visualize how the software is expected to function in various situations. Each use case includes a title, a description, the involved actors, preconditions, event flow, and postconditions. This structure helps identify both successful scenarios and potential errors or exceptions that may arise during interaction. Use cases are particularly useful in agile methodologies and behavior-driven development, as they encourage collaboration between development teams and stakeholders, ensuring that everyone has a clear understanding of the system’s expectations and functionalities.
History: The concept of ‘Use Case’ was introduced by Ivar Jacobson in 1986 as part of his work in object-oriented software development. Jacobson sought a way to capture system requirements from the user’s perspective, leading to the creation of this technique. Over the years, use cases have been integrated into various development methodologies, including the Rational Unified Process (RUP) and agile methodologies, where they are used to define and validate requirements collaboratively.
Uses: Use cases are primarily used in the analysis and design phase of software development. They serve to document the functional requirements of the system and are a key tool in communication between developers and stakeholders. Additionally, they are used in test planning, as each use case can be turned into a set of tests that ensure the system meets the specified requirements.
Examples: An example of a use case could be ‘Logging into the system’, where the actor is the user and the steps include entering the username and password, and receiving a response from the system about the success or failure of the login. Another example could be ‘Making a purchase’, which details the necessary interactions for a user to select a product, add it to the cart, and complete the payment process.
