What does a use case describe?

A use case primarily describes the interactions between users and a system, outlining how users engage with the system to achieve specific goals. This includes detailing the actions users might take and how the system responds to those actions. By focusing on these interactions, use cases help in understanding the functional requirements of the system, ensuring that developers and stakeholders have a shared understanding of what the system should accomplish from the user’s perspective.

Use cases serve as valuable tools for various stakeholders in a project. They facilitate clear communication by providing a narrative format to express the user journey, aiding in the identification of system functionality and requirements. This clarity helps in creating a user-centered design approach, emphasizing what users need to accomplish and how they will interact with the system.

Other options focus on aspects that do not pertain directly to the specific purpose of a use case. For instance, summarizing project finances pertains to budget and resource management, while a task list for project management relates more to project execution and tracking. Additionally, a marketing plan centers on strategies for promoting and launching products, which is distinctly different from capturing user-system interactions. These areas serve different functions within a project context, highlighting the unique role that use cases play in requirements gathering and system design.