How Do You Write Test Cases for a Text Box?

Every business aims to capture leads through a variety of forms. Some focus on getting prospects through newsletter subscribers, while others offer demo requests. A text box is a common element irrespective of the form type. In fact, search boxes on the websites are also test boxes. Text boxes record names, email addresses, queries, passwords, searches, and more. Running them through thorough testing is essential for the proper functioning of the site. The right set of test cases for text boxes helps you do that.

Text Box Use Cases

Text boxes serve various purposes in user interfaces and are widely used across different applications. Here is a list of common uses for text boxes:

Data Input

Text boxes are fundamental for users to input data, such as names, addresses, and other textual information.

Password Entry

Password text boxes allow users to input sensitive information, hiding characters as they type securely.

Search Functionality

Search boxes enable users to enter search queries, facilitating easy information retrieval in applications and websites.

Comments and Descriptions

Multi-line text boxes enter longer text, such as comments, descriptions, or messages.

Username/Email Entry

Specialized text boxes ensure the correct format for entering usernames or email addresses.

Numeric Input

Numeric text boxes allow users to enter numerical values, such as age, quantity, or phone numbers.

Date and Time Input

Date and time picker text boxes enable users to select or enter specific dates and times.

Survey and Form Fields

Text boxes are extensively used in surveys and forms for users to provide responses to questions.

Text Editing in Documents or Editors

Text boxes are integral to text editing applications or document editors, allowing users to manipulate text.

Types of Text Boxes

Different use cases depend on the type of text box used. Here’s the list:

• Single-Line Text Box: A basic text box for entering a single line of text.
• Multi-Line Text Box: Allows users to input multiple lines of text, suitable for longer entries.
• Password Text Box: Conceals entered characters, commonly used for secure password entry.
• Search Box: Designed specifically for entering search queries, often with auto-suggest functionality.
• Email Text Box: Validates and accepts email addresses, ensuring correct format.

• File Upload Text Box: Facilitates the selection and upload of files from the user’s device.
• Read-Only Text Box: Displays information that users can view but not edit.
• Disabled Text Box: This appears like a regular text box but is not editable.

• Phone Number Text Box: Validates and formats input specifically for phone numbers.
• Barcode/QR Code Text Box: Accepts or displays barcode or QR code information.
• Signature Text Box: Allows users to draw or input a signature, commonly used in electronic forms.
• Password Confirmation Text Box: Used in combination with password entry to confirm the entered password.

Let’s look at an example:

Further Reading: Test Cases for API Testing

Sample Test Cases for Text Box or Text Area Control

Let’s look at the various sample test cases for the text box.

Test Case Type	Sample Test Cases for Text Box Testing
UI	1. Verify that the text box is aligned correctly on the page.2. Test the font size, style, and color for readability.3. Confirm proper spacing around the text box.
Functional	1. Verify that alphanumeric characters can be entered.2. Test special characters’ input validation.3. Check the maximum character limit.
Non-functional	1. Test the performance with a large amount of text.2. Verify response time when submitting large amounts of data.3. Test the behavior under low network bandwidth conditions.
Security	1. Test input validation to prevent SQL injection.2. Verify the textbox handles HTML and script injections securely.3. Test for potential cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities.
Usability	1. Test the clarity and appropriateness of error messages.2. Verify that tooltips or hints are available for guidance.3. Test the responsiveness and ease of use on different devices.
Accessibility	1. Confirm the text box is navigable using keyboard inputs.2. Test screen reader compatibility for users with visual impairments.3. Verify sufficient color contrast for users with visual disabilities.
Performance	1. Verify the text box response time under peak load conditions.2. Test concurrent user interactions with the text box.3. Confirm proper handling of continuous data entry for an extended period.
Compatibility	1. Test the text box across various browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.).2. Verify compatibility with different operating systems.3. Test responsiveness on various devices (desktop, tablet, mobile).

Learn test case design techniques that can help you run these tests efficiently.

UI Test Cases for Text Box

Now, let’s give attention to particular test cases that you need to run for UI validating the text boxes on your website. 

• Verify that the text box is visible on the page.
• Confirm the placement and alignment of the text box within the UI.
• Test the font size, style, and color.
• Test for proper spacing and padding.
• Test the responsiveness of the text box to user input.
• Confirm that placeholder text, if used, is displayed within the text box.
• Test the display of error messages for invalid input.
• Test the display of suggestions as the user types.
• Test the navigability of the text box using keyboard inputs (Tab, Enter, etc.).
• Test the behavior of the text box on different screen sizes.

Functional Test Cases for Text Box

Another important set of test cases is functional, which impacts users immensely. These are the functional test cases you should know about:

• Verify that the text box accepts alphanumeric characters.
• Test the text box with special characters (e.g., @, #, $).
• Check if the text box can handle empty input.
• Test the text box with input up to the maximum character limit.
• Test the functionality of auto-suggest or auto-complete features.
• Test input validation for correct data formats (e.g., email validation).
• Test the undo and redo functionality within the text box.
• Verify that users can copy and paste text from and to the text box.
• Confirm that the entered text is retained when navigating away and returning to the page.

What are the Positive Test Scenarios for Text Boxes?

While the test cases determine the defects in a system, test scenarios cover every aspect of the application for testing. These are some of the positive test scenarios for text boxes:

• Check if the text box accepts special or alphanumeric characters.
• Test if the text box allows for a character limit.
• Test if users can add trailing and leading whitespace in the text box.
• Verify the case sensitivity of the text box and its behavior when the correct input is entered.
• Check the text box format, i.e., date, email, address, phone number, etc.
• Verify the placeholder in the text box and its function.
• Test if the text box allows breaking the sentences or the content into multiple lines. 

What are the Negative Test Scenarios for Text Boxes?

Similar to validating the positive scenarios, testers also need to check the negative scenarios to ensure the text box is working correctly.

• Verify all the different input types that the system might reject, i.e., certain special characters and dates in the email address text box.
• The text box should show the right error message if the character limit is exceeded.
• Enter invalid/wrong inputs in different text boxes, such as email, name, phone number, birth date, and more.
• Attempt to enter code snippets or HTML code into the input box to see if the same is rejected.
• Check if leaving the text box empty generates an appropriate error message.

Test Cases For Disabled TextBox

• Confirm that the disabled text box is visible and not hidden or obscured by other elements.
• Verify that the disabled text box is in a read-only state and any attempt to edit the content in the text box is not allowed.
• Check that the disabled text box is skipped during tab navigation.
• Confirm that the disabled text box has a distinguishable appearance, such as a grayed-out or muted color.
• Confirm the look and feel of this text box on all devices and browsers.

Test Cases For Enabled TextBox

• Confirm that the enabled text box allows user input and that text is successfully entered.
• Test with various valid inputs (alphanumeric, special characters) to ensure the enabled text box accepts them.
• Verify that the enabled text box is included in the tab order and receives focus.
• Input text up to the maximum allowed character limit.
• Check if the user can leave the box empty and proceed further if it is not a mandatory field.
• Ensure that the box does not accept any invalid characters or input.

Test Cases for Single-Line Text Box

• Enter single-line text within the text box and verify proper handling.
• Attempt to enter multiline text and ensure the text box accepts only single-line input.
• Test copy-paste functionality inside the text box.
• Confirm that the placeholder text is displayed when the text box is empty, if applicable.
• Enter text with leading and trailing whitespace.
• Verify that the single-line input is only accepted when it is valid.
• Verify that the single-line input is rejected if invalid.

Test Cases for Multi-line Text Box

• Enter multi-line text into the text box and verify that line breaks and formatting are preserved.
• Test copy-paste functionality for multiline content.
• Enter text beyond the visible area of the text box and confirm that the text box allows scrolling to view hidden content.
• Resize the text box and verify that it accommodates additional lines accordingly.
• Verify if the text box accepts special characters and email addresses as input.
• Test that the box also accepts numerical values.
• Ensure that the input with invalid sentences or spaces is rejected.

Test Cases For Text Field Validation

• Submit the form without entering any data into the required text field and verify that an appropriate error message is displayed for the required field.
• Enter data in an incorrect format (e.g., email without ‘@’) and submit and confirm that the system displays an error for the incorrect format.
• Input text beyond the maximum allowed length and verify that the system prevents submission of such values.
• Enter non-numeric characters in a field expecting numeric input, which should be appropriately rejected.
• Input special characters into a field where they are not allowed to verify that the system rejects it.

Inputs For TextBox

• Enter a combination of letters and numbers into the text box to see if alphanumeric input is accepted.
• Input various special characters (e.g., @#$%^&*) into the text box to check they are accepted.
• Enter a valid numeric value into the text box.
• Input text with leading and trailing whitespace and verify that leading/trailing spaces are trimmed and do not affect the input content.
• Submit the form with an empty text box and confirm that the system handles empty input appropriately, providing the required error messages.
• Check for invalid inputs and the associated error message.
• Ensure that different text box types take the correct content format as input.

Can We Automate Test Cases for Text Box?

It is possible to automate test cases for text boxes using the right tools. Automation allows for the creation of scripts that simulate user interactions with text boxes, entering various inputs, and validating expected outcomes. Frameworks like Selenium, Appium, or Cypress provide capabilities for automating web and mobile applications, including text box interactions. And tools like Testsigma offer an easy and quick route to testing without the need for coding. 

Automated testing offers advantages such as faster execution, consistent test coverage, and the ability to run tests across different environments. Additionally, automation scripts handle positive and negative testing scenarios, making it efficient to validate the functionality, input validation, and behavior of text boxes.

Automate Test Cases for Text Box with Testsigma

The next step to knowing that you can automate text box testing is to put it into action. We have already mentioned how Testsigma provides a full-fledged testing option for validating text box functionality. Let’s take an example and see the tool in action.

Suppose you have to check if an email address text field is working as intended. Below are a few test scenarios to consider:

• Valid email address entry
• Invalid email address entry
• Correct error message display
• Existing email address notification

For now, we will execute the first test scenario. Testsigma tool will check if a valid input into the text box functions as expected. Here are the steps:

1. Go to the Testsigma website and click on Schedule a Demo.
2. Fill in all the mandatory text fields, including the email address option.
3. After selecting your device to test, click on Submit.
4. The form should show a confirmation message if the email address field (and other text box fields) receives the valid input.

Run these steps in Testsigma by taking reference from the below tool image:

Verify that you receive the below confirmation message after entering the valid email address.

Testsigma comes equipped with multiple features for testers:

• No-code testing with minimal test maintenance.
• Automated web application testing and mobile and API testing.
• Supports test data management and third-party integrations.
• Easy to understand UI for a low learning curve.
• Automated regression testing with 5x faster results.

Tools to Test Text Field

Automating tests is only as efficient as the tool in use. Although Testsigma does everything you need for checking website elements, here are some of the other test automation tools that can be quite useful.

Test Data Tools

Test data management is crucial for comprehensive testing, and specialized tools facilitate the creation, manipulation, and provisioning of test data. CA Test Data Manager, Informatica Test Data Management, and Testsigma are three of the notable tools. They enable robust test data management features, allowing testers to create, manage, and manipulate diverse sets of test data.

Bug Magnet Chrome Add-on

Bug Magnet is a Chrome browser add-on designed to enhance the testing process by providing variations of test data to uncover potential issues. It simplifies the testing of text fields by offering a set of predefined test data variations, which testers can use as input.

Browser Developer Tools

Browser Developer Tools are essential for inspecting, debugging, and testing web applications directly from the browser. Chrome DevTools, Firefox Developer Tools, and Edge DevTools are some of the most commonly used sets of web developer tools built specifically for different browsers. All of them have features that empower testers to inspect and modify text fields, monitor network activity, and debug web applications directly from the browser.

Conclusion

Text fields are important for various activities, many of which focus on getting and retaining leads. It is necessary for these fields to work correctly under different conditions. Testers need to check not only the positive scenarios but negative ones as well to ensure that the final option goes to release without any issues.

This list of test cases and automation tools is the perfect starting point for QAs to verify the functionality of text boxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you write a test case for a search box?

Write a test case for a search box functionality by specifying the input, expected behavior, and validation criteria. 

For example: 

Test Case: Enter a valid search query, such as ‘keyword,’ into the search box. 

Expected Outcome: The system should display relevant search results matching the input query. Validation: Confirm that the displayed results match the entered keyword and the search is performed accurately.