Natural Language Testing: Write Tests Like You Write User Stories

From User Story to Test Case

Every software team writes user stories:

"As a customer, I want to add items to my cart so that I can purchase them later."

But when it comes to testing, this simple requirement transforms into complex code:

describe('Shopping Cart', () => {
  beforeEach(async () => {
    await page.goto(BASE_URL);
    await loginAsCustomer();
  });

  it('should add item to cart', async () => {
    await page.click('[data-testid="product-1"]');
    await page.waitForSelector('.product-detail');
    await page.click('.add-to-cart-btn');
    await page.waitForSelector('.cart-notification');
    const cartCount = await page.$eval('.cart-count', el => el.textContent);
    expect(cartCount).toBe('1');
  });
});

Why does testing require such a dramatic translation?

The Promise of Natural Language Testing

Natural language testing closes this gap. Instead of code, you write tests in plain English:

"Navigate to the product catalog, click on the first product, and add it to the cart. Verify the cart shows 1 item."

That's it. The AI understands:

• Where to navigate


• What "first product" means


• How to add to cart


• What verification looks like

How It Works

Step 1: Write What You Want to Test

Start with simple, clear language:

1. Go to the login page
2. Enter "test@example.com" as email
3. Enter "password123" as password
4. Click the login button
5. Verify the dashboard is visible

Step 2: AI Interprets and Executes

The AI:

• Identifies the login page URL from your project


• Finds the email and password fields


• Locates the login button


• Understands what "dashboard is visible" means

Step 3: Watch and Learn

Every test run includes:

• Video recording of the execution


• Step-by-step screenshots


• AI reasoning for each action


• Clear pass/fail results

Real-World Examples

E-commerce Checkout Flow

Traditional Code:

await page.goto('/products');
await page.click('.product-card:first-child');
await page.click('#add-to-cart');
await page.click('.cart-icon');
await page.click('#checkout-btn');
await page.fill('#shipping-address', '123 Main St');
// ... 50 more lines

Natural Language:

1. Browse to the product catalog
2. Add the first product to cart
3. Go to checkout
4. Fill in shipping address: 123 Main St, Seattle, WA 98101
5. Select standard shipping
6. Enter test credit card details
7. Complete the purchase
8. Verify order confirmation is displayed

User Registration

Natural Language Test:

1. Navigate to the signup page
2. Fill in a random email address
3. Create a password with at least 8 characters
4. Confirm the password
5. Accept the terms of service
6. Submit the registration form
7. Verify the welcome message appears

Benefits for Your Team

1. Everyone Can Write Tests

• Product managers can author acceptance criteria as executable tests
• Designers can verify UI flows without coding
• Developers can focus on building, not test maintenance
• QA engineers can work at a higher level

2. Living Documentation

Your tests become readable documentation of how the system should work. New team members can understand features by reading test cases.

3. Stakeholder Communication

Show stakeholders exactly what's being tested in language they understand. No more "the test framework is too complex to explain."

4. Faster Test Creation

Write tests in minutes instead of hours. Iterate quickly as requirements evolve.

Best Practices

Be Specific but Not Brittle

Good: "Click the submit button"
Better: "Submit the form"

Let the AI find the right element. Don't over-specify unless necessary.

Use Domain Language

Write tests using the same terminology your team uses:

• "Add to cart" not "Click the purchase action button"


• "Dashboard" not "Main authenticated user interface"

Think Like a User

Write tests that describe user actions:

• "Search for winter jackets"


• "Filter by price under $100"


• "Sort by customer rating"

Include Verification

Always end with what success looks like:

• "Verify the confirmation email is mentioned"


• "Verify the order total matches the cart"


• "Verify no error messages are displayed"

Getting Started

Natural language testing is available today with Qualigate. Here's how to start:

1. Sign up for a free account
• Add your project URL
• Write your first test in plain English
• Run and watch the AI execute it

Ready to write tests like user stories? Start your free trial and experience natural language testing.