What does "test automation" refer to?

Test automation specifically refers to the use of software tools to automatically execute test cases. This involves creating scripts or using specialized software to perform testing tasks that would traditionally require manual input. By automating these tests, teams can achieve more consistent results, enhance execution speed, and free up testers to focus on more complex tasks that require human judgment.

In contrast, manually executing test cases is a fundamental practice of software testing but does not involve automation, which is the essence of the correct definition. Reducing the number of needed test cases may benefit the testing process but isn't synonymous with automation; rather, it can be a part of test strategy optimization. Similarly, while automating product deployments is an important aspect of DevOps, it does not pertain directly to the concept of test automation itself. The primary focus of test automation is on efficiently and accurately executing test cases through automated methods.