Meaning, Components, Benefits And Examples Of Use Cases

The use case acts as an interactive mechanism facilitating communication between users and the system during software development. It aids in comprehending the user’s interactions with the system and determining the system’s functionalities necessary to fulfil the user’s requirements.

Definition

A use case is a written representation that explains how a user will accomplish tasks on a website. It describes the behaviour of a system as it responds to a user’s request from their perspective. It consists of a series of potential interactions between users and systems in a specific setting and linked to a specific objective.

Benefits Of Use Case

• Organizing and ranking software requirements such as essential features and components can be achieved through the use of use cases. Developers can utilize use cases to prioritize elements and features that are necessary for the software.

• Use cases can effectively demonstrate the desired layout of a system, platform, or software by presenting the most favourable scenario and outcome.

• Use cases can assist developers in setting up a list of objectives, evaluating the required complexity and estimating expenses by revealing potential unintended uses and establishing system goals and targets.

• Conducting problem-solving sessions with the help of use cases can enable developers to anticipate and discuss potential problems, misunderstandings, defects, or malfunctions that may arise, and determine the most effective solutions to address these issues.

 Components In Use Cases

1. Identification Of The Use Case And Its Application

To identify a use case, it is necessary to comprehend the system’s requirements and recognize the stakeholders involved in the scenario. Additionally, this step involves assigning a unique identifier to the use case for documentation purposes.

2. The Name And Description Of The Use Case

Assigning a name and description to a use case is essential for maintaining records. The name should be brief and straightforward, whereas the description can be more detailed and described in paragraph form. Both elements serve as titles for the use case.

3. Actor

An actor refers to an entity that carries out a particular action. This entity can either be a human or an object that interacts with the system. For instance, when considering an e-commerce website, various actors may be involved, such as buyers, delivery or shipping companies, and digital or online customer service agents.

4. Stakeholder

A stakeholder in a system is an individual or group who has an interest in how the system operates, even if they are not direct users. Their benefit is derived from the system’s functionality.

5. Primary Actor

A primary actor refers to an individual or system that benefits from the software by achieving its objectives. Usually, the primary actor initiates a use case, but this is not always the case.

6. Preconditions

Preconditions are conditions or facts that must be true before and after the use case. Developers are typically aware of the necessary actions that must be taken for the next step to happen.

7. Triggers

Triggers are events that initiate the investigation or documentation of a use case by software developers. These triggers can arise from internal or external factors, such as a customer encountering an issue or a request from a leader to conduct research prior to a product launch.

8. Basic Flow

The primary path, also known as the main success scenario, is a use case that operates flawlessly and as originally intended, without any deviations or issues during execution. This is typically used as a starting point for developing alternate options.

Having a clear grasp of how the standard scenario operates can aid in the implementation of accurate code or the identification of alternative paths.

9. Alternative Path

A different route or sequence of events is referred to as an alternative path or flow, which is a modification of the primary success scenario. This is usually used to demonstrate what happens when there is a system-level failure.

The most probable or significant deviations that an actor might make an exception for are frequently included in this portion of the use case.

Examples Of Use Cases

Online Shopping/Purchase

The use case entails a customer desiring to buy a product from an online store. The customer engages in activities such as browsing the website, selecting items to add to the cart, providing payment and shipping details, and finalizing the purchase.

ATM Withdrawal

The use case revolves around a customer seeking to withdraw cash from an ATM. The customer proceeds by inserting their card, inputting a PIN, selecting an account, specifying the desired withdrawal amount, and ultimately receiving the requested cash.

The Online Booking System Of An Airline

An airline operating globally intends to update its internet-based reservation platform, providing more intricate pricing alternatives, supplementary revenue options, as well as additional non-compulsory services, such as curbside check-in.

Social Media Posting

The use case involves a user desiring to share a message on a social media platform. The user engages in actions such as logging in, creating a message, including any required attachments, and ultimately publishing the post.