E2E Test Coverage: Test the Right Scenarios, Not Just Everything
We all chase that high coverage number.
It looks great on a dashboard.
It makes the team feel safe.
But I'll tell you the truth: a high coverage score doesn't mean your software works.
It just means you wrote a lot of tests.
The real goal isn't quantity.
The goal is quality of coverage.
You need to test the right scenarios.
TL;DR: Strategic E2E Coverage Framework
| Component | Summary |
|---|---|
| Problem | High E2E coverage numbers often equal low business value. Most teams test the easy stuff, not the critical user journeys. |
| Solution | Switch from focusing on Code Coverage to User Flow Coverage. |
| Key Concept | Identify the Money Flow (the 3-5 core paths that lead to user success and business value). |
| Action Step 1 | Map Critical Paths - Work with Product/Analytics to identify Sign Up → Core Action → Value flows |
| Action Step 2 | Use Stable Selectors - Use data-test-id and meaningful selectors to avoid test fragility |
| Action Step 3 | Review Like Investments - Delete tests that require constant maintenance but rarely catch real bugs |
| Bottom Line | Stop testing code; start testing user success and business value. |
What Most Teams Get Wrong About Coverage
Most teams focus on the easy stuff.
They test components in isolation.
They test basic logins that never break.
They test every tiny piece of UI that a user might click once a month.
This creates "vanity coverage."
It's a high number that provides low value.
When a critical user flow breaks, everyone asks why the tests didn't catch it.
The tests were there, but they weren't covering the business impact.
You need to switch your focus from Code Coverage to User Flow Coverage.
The Founder's Rule: Focus on the Money Flow
Your entire E2E strategy should start with one question: How does the user bring us value?
This is the Money Flow (or the Value Flow).
Identify the three to five core journeys a user takes that result in success.
For a SaaS product, this is usually:
Sign Up → Onboarding → First Successful Action.
Login → Create & Save Core Object → Share/Export.
Plan Upgrade → Billing & Feature Access Check.
These are your Critical Scenarios.
If any of these break, the business stops.
Test these flows first.
Test them thoroughly.
Make them the fastest, most reliable tests you have.
Three Steps to Strategic E2E Coverage
1. Map the Critical User Paths
Don't just look at the code.
Sit down with the Product Manager.
Look at the analytics data.
Find the paths that 80% of your successful users take.
Forget the edge cases for now.
Make a simple map: Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, Success.
These maps become the blueprint for your E2E tests.
2. Ditch the Fragile Selectors
A test that breaks every time the button text changes is a bad test.
It wastes time and makes people lose faith in testing.
Use selectors that are stable and meaningful to the user.
Things like data-test-id or robust ARIA labels.
If the selector is complex and specific to the internal code structure, it's going to be a maintenance nightmare.
Simple tests are reliable tests.
3. Review the Test Portfolio Like an Investment
You don't keep a stock that's constantly losing money.
Why keep a test that is constantly failing for no reason?
Periodically review your E2E suite.
If a test hasn't caught a bug in six months, but requires weekly maintenance, delete it.
Every test you write is technical debt.
Only keep the tests that provide a clear, high-return on your time investment.
Conclusion: Stop Testing Code, Start Testing Value
The best E2E coverage is the kind that tells you, with certainty, that your user can still succeed.
It's not about 100% of lines tested.
It's about 100% of critical scenarios working right now.
Think like the user.
Think like the business.
Now, go look at your dashboard.
Ask yourself if those green numbers are telling you the whole truth.
➡️ Start building your perfect E2E tests with strategic coverage and a free Heedbase account today!