> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getusertrace.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Core Concepts

> Understanding UserTrace's testing framework components

## Overview

Understanding UserTrace's testing framework requires grasping four key components that work together to create realistic agent evaluations.

## Scenario

A **Scenario** defines the testing situation you want to evaluate. Think of it as the "what if" question you want answered.

**Example:** *"A 30-year-old migrant delivery worker based in Bengaluru, under financial stress"*

This simple description gets expanded into a comprehensive test case that includes:

* Contextual background and situation details
* Expected user goals and pain points
* Linked persona for behavioral modeling
* Connected evaluation criteria for success measurement

## Persona

A **Persona** brings your scenario to life by defining how the simulated user thinks, behaves, and communicates.

Taking our delivery worker example, the persona would detail:

* **Communication style**: Direct, time-conscious, uses local language mix
* **Daily goals**: Maximize deliveries, minimize downtime, manage expenses
* **Emotional state**: Stressed about finances, frustrated with app issues
* **Knowledge level**: Tech-savvy but impatient with complex processes
* **Decision-making patterns**: Quick decisions, price-sensitive choices

## Evals (Evaluations)

**Evals** define your pass/fail criteria - the specific metrics that determine if your agent handled the scenario successfully.

Examples include:

* Did the agent resolve the delivery issue within 2 minutes?
* Was the tone empathetic when discussing financial concerns?
* Did the agent offer appropriate solutions for the user's location?
* Was sensitive information handled securely?

## Simulation

A **Simulation** executes your test by running the scenario with its linked persona and evaluations.

**Scaling Example:**

* 1 Scenario: "Financial stress delivery worker"
* 4 Personas: Different ages, locations, stress levels, communication styles
* 2 Sessions each: Morning rush vs evening fatigue states
* **Result**: 8 total conversations automatically tested against your evaluation criteria

Each conversation provides detailed insights into how your agent performs across different user types and situations.

## How It Works

**The simple truth: You only need to select the scenarios you want to test.**

When you choose a scenario in UserTrace, the appropriate personas and evaluations are automatically selected and linked for you. This means:

* **No manual persona creation** - We've already built realistic user personas that match your scenarios
* **No evaluation setup** - Relevant success criteria are pre-configured for each scenario type
* **No complex configuration** - Just pick your scenarios and run your tests

## Workflow

1. **Browse** available scenarios in your UserTrace dashboard
2. **Select** the scenarios that match your testing needs
3. **Run** simulations - personas and evals are automatically applied
4. **Review** results with detailed conversation analysis

This automated approach ensures you get comprehensive testing without the complexity of manual setup, while still providing the depth and realism your agent testing requires.