What is the difference between test cases and checklists, if they are very similar in essence?

Test cases and checklists are both tools for testing, but they differ in detail and purpose:

• Test case — a formal document describing a specific testing scenario with clear steps, input data, expected results, and preconditions. It details how exactly a particular aspect of functionality should be tested. The scope includes regression testing, defect verification, and testing of critical functionality.
• Checklist — a list of items or functional areas to be checked. It does not contain detailed steps or expected results, providing testers with greater flexibility in performing checks. The scope includes smoke testing, ad-hoc testing, and exploratory testing.

Attribute	Test case	Checklist
Detailing	High (steps, input data, results)	Low (items to check)
Formality	High	Low
Flexibility	Low	High
Creation time	Significant	Small
Requirements	Usually linked to specific requirements	Can be more general or based on experience
Reporting	Easy to track results for each step	Less detailed reporting
Support	Requires regular updates	Requires less effort to maintain

In automation, approaches based on test cases or behavior-driven testing (BDD), which also formalize scenarios, are preferred for reliable automation of specific paths. Checklists are less suitable for direct automation due to their unstructured nature but can serve as a basis for developing automated tests.