What does a test script in automation contain?

A test script in automation is a critical component designed specifically to automate the testing process. It contains a set of instructions that tell the automation framework what actions to perform when executing tests on the software application. This includes defining the steps to set up the test environment, input data, execute specific operations, check expected outcomes, and handle any assertions or validations.

By focusing on the automated execution of tests, these scripts streamline the testing process, enabling faster execution and allowing for more tests to be run with greater consistency compared to manual testing. Quality assurance teams can easily replicate tests across different environments, ensuring reliability and reusability of test scenarios.

The other options do not pertain to the essence of an automation test script. Visual documentation of software may provide insights into the application architecture but does not automate tests. Manual user guides are intended for human users rather than automated processes. Database connectivity information is crucial for running tests that interact with a database but is not the primary purpose of a test script itself.