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# QA Writes the Test Plan

The QA test plan describes in concise detail the test procedures and conditions for testing the features and performance of the software product. It is a guide to help the QA analyst perform quality assurance tests after the programmer has completed adequate and substantial program testing, and before a product is released to the market. It describes the functions to be tested, the objective of each test, the requirements for each test, the conditions under which each test is to be conducted, and the procedures for each test. In addition, test plans are also used as an audit trail of the QA process.

QA test plans are based on the application’s technical specification, which describes the intended function of the application. Software Development writes the specification, and QA and other departments (such as marketing and sales) review it.