How are test cases best derived from a use case?

The process of deriving test cases from a use case is most effectively accomplished by exercising defined basic, exceptional, and error behaviors as defined in the use case collaboration with the actors. This approach ensures that all potential scenarios outlined in the use case are considered, allowing testers to validate that the system behaves as intended under various circumstances.

Use cases describe the interactions between users (actors) and the system to achieve specific goals, highlighting the expected behavior of the system. By focusing on basic behaviors—those scenarios that should function normally—as well as exceptional and error scenarios, a comprehensive set of test cases can be created that validate different pathways through the use case. This ensures both primary functionality and robustness against unexpected inputs or situations.

Other options, while they may touch upon valid aspects of testing and use cases, do not directly capture the full spectrum that is derived specifically from the use case structure. For instance, identifying components for integration tests is more about system architecture than individual use cases, and analyzing actor interactions for usability neglects the need to test for various operational scenarios. Exercising decision points focuses on business processes and coverage rather than the specific interactions laid out in a use case. Therefore, the approach of exercising both normal and exceptional behaviors in collaboration with actors stands out as the