What process transforms general test objectives into specific test cases?

The process that transforms general test objectives into specific test cases is known as test design. This phase is crucial in the software testing lifecycle as it takes the broad goals for testing—such as verifying a system’s functionalities, performance, or security—and breaks them down into detailed test cases that can be executed.

During test design, testers analyze the general requirements and objectives, and then identify conditions and criteria that need to be tested. They create test cases that outline the specific inputs, actions, and expected results, ensuring that all necessary aspects of the application are covered methodically. This helps in ensuring that the testing process is aligned with the overall testing strategy and that it effectively verifies that the software meets its requirements.

Other options focus on different aspects of the testing process. Test execution refers to the actual running of the test cases that were designed. The test environment deals with the setup and configuration needed to perform those tests effectively. Test data preparation is about creating or organizing the data required to execute the tests. While all these elements are important in the testing process, it is the test design function that specifically maps the broad testing objectives into actionable, specific test cases.