How To Build a Jira Test Case Template For Your Team

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While Jira isn’t a full-featured test case management tool, many agile teams use it for this purpose. Jira provides a straightforward way to document tests, track execution, and keep developers and QAs aligned. With a reusable test case template, you can bring more consistency to this process.

Templates help standardize test documentation, reduce manual work, and optimize time. In this guide, I will show you how to build a test case template in Jira and use it with automation for greater efficiency.

What is a Test Case Template, and What Does it Consist of?

A test case template is a structure outlining the key steps for testing a specific feature of a software product. A Jira test case template can include placeholders for specific information. Depending on the functionality you need to test, you can fill in the templates with the details relevant to your specific case.

In Jira, such templates can be applied at different levels of the hierarchy:

• Work item level

This is when a template applies to a standalone Jira work item. Typically, it includes generic information, and the details for testing a specific feature have to be filled out by a QA. However, such templates can contain specific information if the same test case is used regularly.

• Epic level

With this type of template, you have a saved task hierarchy, where a test suite is organized as an epic with multiple issues, each containing a specific test case. This format is especially helpful for teams that repeatedly run regression tests on the same features. The tested functionality remains the same, so a template can list feature-specific steps. This makes it a ready-to-use action plan.

A work item with an individual Jira test case template usually includes:

• Test title - a short summary that clearly states what the test is checking

• Description - a quick explanation of what needs to be verified

• Preconditions - any setup or conditions that must be met before starting the test

• Test steps - a list of actions for the tester to follow (or placeholders for such steps)

• Expected test case results - what should happen if the feature works correctly

• Actual results - what actually happened during the test

• Status - the outcome of the test, such as Passed/Failed

• Linked issues - connections to related stories, requirements, or reported bugs

This helps you keep your testing process consistent and ensures the team follows every step without missing a thing.

With a saved template, there’s no need to retype the structure or copy it over from another document. The template can be added automatically to specified work item types–for example, if your team has a Test Case issue type. For epic-level templates, you can schedule automated epic creation. As a result, you will have a ready-to-use test suite created automatically right in time for regression testing.

Ready-to-use Examples For a Jira Test Case Template

Here, I have included a generalized task-level template that you can adapt to different scenarios. Another example is an epic-level template that outlines a complete regression suite. I have also added a sample test case for a login verification flow to show how this works in practice.

Example 1: A Generalized Jira Test Case Template

Every product and feature needs its own set of test cases, so there’s no universal template that fits all situations. Still, a generalized Jira test case template can serve as a solid starting point. It provides a consistent structure based on your team’s standards, which you can then customize with feature-specific steps.

This approach minimizes repetitive work, speeds up test case creation, and helps your team follow a unified format. Here’s what it might look like:

## Test Case {{Number}}: {{Feature_Name}} || {{Project}}

Description:

[Briefly describe what this test case verifies]

Priority: {{Priority_level}} 

Type: {{Type}} 

Preconditions:

• [Any setup required before execution]

• [Example: User is logged in]

Test Steps & Expected Results:

Step 1: [Describe action]

• Expected result: [Describe expected outcome]

• Step status: [Not run/Passed/Failed/Blocked]

Step 2: [Describe action]

• Expected result: [Describe expected outcome]

• Step status: [Not run/Passed/Failed/Blocked]

Step 3: [Describe action]

• Expected result: [Describe expected outcome]

• Step status: [Not run/Passed/Failed/Blocked]

Test Status: Not run  

Additional Notes:

[Include any additional observations, logs, or screenshots]

You can copy this template directly into a Jira work item. Paste it into the Smart Templates section of the task, then save the work item structure as a reusable template. We’ll walk you through the exact steps a bit later in the guide.

Example 2: A Jira Test Case Template For Login Flow Testing

Once you have a generalized test case template, it’s easy to tailor it for individual features. Below is an example of how that structure can be applied to test a login flow.

Here’s the full description of this test case template that you can copy and use for your needs:

Test Case 001: Login Functionality Verification | GreatApp

Description:

Verify that users can log in using different valid credential formats and authentication methods.

Priority: High

Type: Functional

Preconditions:

• The user must have an existing account with valid credentials.

Test Steps & Expected Results:

Step 1: Open the application and navigate to the login page.

Expected Result: The login page displays fields for username/email and password, along with a “Log in” button.

Step status: Not run

Step 2: Enter a valid username and correct password, then click the “Log in” button.

Expected Result: The system authenticates the user and redirects them to the dashboard/homepage.

Step status: Not run

Step 3: Log out and enter a valid email address and correct password, then click “Log in”.

Expected Result: The system authenticates the user and redirects them to the dashboard/homepage.

Step status: Not run

Step 4: Log out and enter a valid email address in uppercase and the correct password, then click “Log in”.

Expected Result: The system authenticates the user and redirects them to the dashboard/homepage.

Step status: Not run

Step 5: Log out and enter a valid username with leading and trailing spaces along with the correct password, then click “Log in”.

Expected Result: The system trims the spaces and successfully authenticates the user.

Step status: Not run

Step 6: Log out and enter a valid email with leading and trailing spaces along with the correct password, then click “Log in”.

Expected Result: The system trims the spaces and successfully authenticates the user.

Step status: Not run

Step 7: Log out and attempt to log in via social media authentication - Google Account.

Expected Result: The system successfully authenticates the user and redirects them to the dashboard/homepage.

Step status: Not run

Step 8: Log out and attempt to log in via social media authentication - Facebook Account.

Expected Result: The system successfully authenticates the user and redirects them to the dashboard/homepage.

Step status: Not run

Step 9: Log out and attempt to log in via biometric authentication - fingerprint.

Expected Result: The system successfully authenticates the user and grants access.

Step status: Not run

Test Status: Not Run

Additional Notes:

• Attach relevant logs or screenshots if needed.

Example 3: An Epic-Level Test Case Template For Recurring Testing

For teams that perform regular regression testing, it’s practical to reuse existing test cases. With Smart Templates for Jira, you can organize a test suite as a Jira epic containing multiple work items. Each work item serves as an individual test case, containing defined steps and expected outcomes.

This structure can be saved as a template and scheduled for automated creation. When regression testing is due, your team receives a pre-made set of test cases that have already been assigned and are ready for execution.

Below is an example of an epic-level test case template for a food delivery application.

This template was built using Smart Templates and Smart Checklist for Jira by TitanApps. Each checklist item can include an expandable Details section, where you can add test results, attach screenshots, or include relevant links.

You can update the template with additional work items as new functionality is introduced. Smart Templates also offer a History tab in the Edit menu, which shows all work items created from that template. This allows you to review each instance, track details, and check the status logs at a glance:

How to Build a Jira Test Case Template Step-by-Step

 Jira doesn’t provide native functionality for creating test case templates, so you’ll need to use a third-party app. One option is Smart Templates for Jira, which is a solution that supports both epic-level and issue-level templates like those shown in the examples above. Here’s how to use it to build a test case template:

1. Install Smart Templates for Jira from the Atlassian marketplace. 

2. Create a new Jira work item and draft the structure you want to save as a template. If it’s a standalone work item, you can copy the template from one of our reusable examples and take it as a basis. If you are making an epic-level template, create an epic that will be your test suite, and add test cases in separate work items.

3. If necessary, adjust the structure before saving it as a template. Add assignees, include variables, and add checklists with Smart Checklist for Jira.

4. In the Smart Templates section of your issue/epic, click Save structure as template, name your template, and save it. 

Once this is done, you can manually create a test case from this template whenever it’s needed. 

For recurring tasks, such as regression testing, it makes sense to set up an automation. With Smart Templates, this can be done in different ways:

• Automated test case creation on a schedule

 To automate recurring test creation, utilize the Scheduler feature built into Smart Templates. As I mentioned earlier, this is particularly useful for regression testing. In the example below, the schedule is configured to create an epic (test suite) with work items (individual test cases) every two weeks on Wednesdays. As a result, testers receive pre-assigned test cases in advance of the next release cycle.

To set this up, open your list of smart templates, select the relevant one, then go to ⋯ -> Edit -> Scheduler.

• Auto-add the template to all Test Case work items

When using generalized test case templates, it’s helpful to assign them to a specific Jira work item type. This way, every new work item of that type will automatically include the testing structure you’ve defined. It works well when you have a separate work item type for this purpose–such as Test Case–in your Jira project.

Then, use Automation for Jira to set up a rule that adds your template to all newly created work items of the selected type. For more detailed instructions, follow this Smart Templates guide.

Why Use a Test Case Template in Jira? Does it Really Help?

The short answer is yes. Managing test cases in Jira with Smart Templates helps you structure the testing process and work more efficiently. It reduces repetitive work, improves team coordination, and supports consistent documentation. Here are the main benefits:

• Faster test case creation - The test structure is applied automatically, and key fields can be populated using variables–no manual duplication is needed.

• Standardized processes - Everyone follows the same structure, which improves clarity and consistency 

• Easier onboarding - New teammates can jump in faster with ready-to-use templates that show how things are done

• Time optimization - Smart Templates allow you to pre-fill fields (including custom fields), pre-assign issues, and create new issues automatically on a schedule

To achieve better results, use Smart Templates alongside Smart Checklist for Jira. This combination enables your team to create and manage test cases more efficiently, reducing manual steps and enhancing task tracking clarity.