What is the difference between JIRA test cycles and test plan? How to use both efficient?

[Elke Defrere]

Dear,

for projects I'm working on, we deliver a package of user stories. Each US has test cases linked to it. When we deliver a component, it's also important to test the full E2E flow.

Can someone explain me in a basic manner the main difference between TEST CYCLE(S) and TEST PAN(S)?

I would like to use both more efficiently and I do have a need to distinguish more high level the test cases, but I don't seem to understand the logic behind it in JIRA

Thanks in advnace

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

A test plan is what the name suggests - it is a plan that lists all the things you are going to do in order to test something.

A test cycle is effectively an event where you execute a plan.