Talk:use case

Extended context
It seems to me that this phrase has now extended its context beyond computer science. I have seen it used in a legal opinion, for instance. Perhaps the definition can be broadened? Best wishes RobbieIanMorrison (talk) 10:47, 1 August 2017 (UTC)


 * Yes, concur with RobbieIanMorrison, especially now in 2020. I see the term used quite a bit in technology development outside of software.  Perhaps one of the serious wordsmiths such as User:SemperBlotto, User:Jberkel, User:Lambiam or User:Vox Sciurorum might suggest a path forward.  N2e (talk) 03:35, 22 January 2021 (UTC)


 * I am only familiar with the original meaning, in which the consideration of "use cases" helps to tackle the design of a complicated software system. Each use case concerns one aspect at a time and should result in a scenario showing the interaction of the system with its environment in that scenario. For example, in designing an ATM system, the situation when an external user has entered a PIN but then does not press ENTER but just waits. The combined use-case scenarios form a partial specification of the overall system functionality. I have not seen the term used in the second sense currently listed, in which use seems to be related to “useful”. It is easy to see how the sense might be broadened to “useful” extended uses and also to the design of other things than software systems. For example, screw drivers are often abused to pry something open, using them as a lever. While not designed for that purpose, a designer might take into consideration that the tool is likely to be subjected to higher forces than arise when used for its originally intended purpose. I don’t know, though, if any new extended or morphed senses are even related to a design process. Does the use in a legal opinion refer to technology development? To draw up tentative definitions that apply in other contexts we need examples of how the term is being used in other contexts. --Lambiam 10:02, 22 January 2021 (UTC)


 * Here is the legal opinion I referred to (see section 1): Jaeger, Till (24 July 2017).  Legal aspects of European electricity data — Legal opinion.  Berlin, Germany: JBB Rechtsanwälte.  (I have copy on file with European Commission livery too but it seems to have disappeared from the web.)  The lawyer involved also specializes in open source software law &mdash; which might explain the leakage of "use case" into legal analysis. .  HTH  RobbieIanMorrison (talk) 20:24, 23 January 2021 (UTC)
 * In that opinion, the term is used to obtain a typology and apparently means “type of use”, or, in the specific context, rather, “type of reuse”. This meaning, “a type of use” – which is one of the meanings, sense 4, of just “use” – is also seen in some if not all citations added by Jberkel. --Lambiam 23:12, 23 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Software Is eating the world. I've added some cites to Citations:use case which talk about use cases of crypto, cameras and head phones, so "usage scenario for some technology or product". – Jberkel 21:07, 23 January 2021 (UTC)