What is JIRA
- JIRA is one of the most popular issue-tracking and project-management tools.
- Supports Agile frameworks like Scrum and Kanban.
- Helps teams organize tasks, bugs, stories, and test cases in one place.
- Integrates well with other tools like Bitbucket, Confluence, and Xray.
How to Access JIRA
- Usually your company will provide a JIRA URL (like
https://companyname.atlassian.net) - Log in with your corporate email or assigned credentials
- You will land on the default dashboard showing your assigned tasks
- Use the top navigation bar to switch between projects and boards
How to Create Issues (Bug/Story/Task) in JIRA
- Click the Create button on the top bar
- Select the Project where the issue should live
- Choose the Issue Type (Story, Task, Bug, Epic, etc.)
- Fill in required fields like Summary, Description, Priority, Assignee
- Attach screenshots if needed
- Click Create to submit
How to Create Test Cases in JIRA (with Xray)
- Install Xray plugin (if not already installed)
- Click the Create button
- Choose Issue Type as Test
- Provide Test Steps with input, action, and expected result
- Link the test to requirements or user stories
- Save the test case
How to Create a Test Plan in JIRA (Xray)
- Click Create → select Issue Type as Test Plan
- Add a summary and description
- Link existing test cases to the plan
- Assign testers and define schedules
- Save the test plan
Executing Test Cases in JIRA (Xray)
- Create a Test Execution issue in JIRA
- Link the tests you want to run
- Assign it to a tester
- As tests are executed, update their status (Pass/Fail) and add evidence
- Xray captures and reports these results in dashboards
What is JIRA Xray?
Xray is a powerful test management plugin for JIRA that adds features to plan, organize, execute, and report on manual or automated tests inside JIRA. It supports:
- Manual test execution and tracking
- Automated results import
- Traceability from requirements to test execution
- Test coverage and reporting dashboards
Importing and Exporting Test Cases & Test Plans
- Use JIRA’s built-in CSV import/export features
- In Xray, use Excel or JSON importers for test cases
- Always verify field mappings before import to avoid data loss
- For large data, test with a small sample first
- Export test executions and plans using Xray's reports (Excel/CSV/PDF)
Pro Tips
- Learn JQL (JIRA Query Language) to create advanced filters
- Use components and versions for better organization
- Clean up unused or duplicate issues regularly
- Customize workflows to match your team’s process
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Leaving issues in unclear status (like “To Do” forever)
- Forgetting to update test results after execution
- Overcomplicating workflows with too many transitions
- Neglecting to link tests to user stories for traceability
Pro Tips
- Use filters for faster tracking of QA issues
- Group bugs by components for easy triage
- Make use of labels like "regression", "critical", "UI" for test coverage tagging
- Link issues to Confluence documentation for traceability
Recommendations
- Practice real-world workflows using a demo JIRA instance
- Use keyboard shortcuts in JIRA to improve efficiency
- Maintain consistent naming and priority schemes across the team