What is the primary goal of a test case?

The primary goal of a test case is to identify defects within the software being tested. A test case is a set of conditions or variables under which a tester evaluates whether a software application behaves as expected. It is designed to check specific functionalities and gather results which can indicate whether the application meets its requirements or if there are any flaws present.

By executing a test case, the tester is systematically evaluating different aspects of the software, and through this process, potential defects can be found and reported. This defect identification is crucial because it allows developers to address issues before the software is released, ensuring higher quality and reliability.

While the execution of the software, observation of behavior, and defining test coverage are important aspects of the testing process, they serve as means to the end goal of identifying defects. The ultimate aim of creating and running test cases is to improve software quality by uncovering issues that need resolution.