what is meant by exploratory testing

Full Answer

What is exploratory testing and when should it be performed?

What is exploratory testing and when should it be performed? When to perform exploratory testing: Exploratory testing can be performed in below mentioned situations: when you need to learn the product quickly with no or poor specifications. when little is known about the product, or as part of preparing a set of scripted tests.

What is exploratory testing, and why is it so important?

Exploratory testing is an approach to software testing that is often described as simultaneous learning, test design, and execution. It focuses on discovery and relies on the guidance of the individual tester to uncover defects that are not easily covered in the scope of other tests.

What are activities involved in exploratory testing?

“Exploratory testing” – as the name suggests, is a simultaneous learning, test design, and test execution process. We can say that in this testing test planning, analysis, design and test execution, are all done together and instantly. This testing is about exploring the system and encouraging real-time and practical thinking of a tester.

What does exploratory testing mean?

The word exploratory testing refers to a technique of testing an application without any preparation or particular schedule. This test is formal testing where a skilled tester performs the investigation of bugs or errors.

What is exploratory testing example?

Exploratory testing allows you to think outside the box and come up with use cases that might not be covered in a test case. For example, you might perform one test and then ask yourself, “What if I tried this? What if I didn't do that?”

Why do we do exploratory testing?

Exploratory Testing helps testers to get more creative and not get loaded with routine testing activities. Findings from exploratory approach can help testing teams to build a strong test management system, which captures learning and expertise of various members in the testing team.

What are the different types of exploratory testing?

Types of Exploratory TestingFreestyle Exploratory Testing. Think of this as exploratory testing with an ad-hoc approach. In this format, there are no rules, structure, or organization. ... Scenario-based Exploratory Testing. This form of exploratory testing is based on real user scenarios. ... Strategy-based Exploratory Testing.

What is exploratory testing and adhoc testing?

During Exploratory Testing, you learn and test the software simultaneously." Ad-hoc testing is an informal, free-form method of software testing, which you can perform without profound knowledge of test subject that offers the possibility of unearthing critical bugs missed by automated or regression testing.

What is exploratory testing interview questions?

Answer: Exploratory testing can be expected in a different way by the individual interviewer. If we can explain it simply, then we can say following proper testing of an entire application based on the designed possible testing by the business analyst at the time of application requirement design or prepare the RTM.

Who should perform exploratory testing?

The great thing about exploratory testing is that it can be done at any given time (even if you have just 5 minutes) by basically anyone who has access to software.

Can exploratory testing be automated?

Yes, exploratory testing can be automated to a certain extent. It can be combined with test automation methods to help better bug reproduction, regression test execution, evidence gathering, etc.

What is exploratory testing black box testing?

Exploratory testing is often thought of as a black box testing technique. Instead, those who have studied it consider it a test approach that can be applied to any test technique, at any stage in the development process.

What is smoke and sanity testing?

Smoke testing is a group of tests that are executed to verify if the basic functionalities of a particular build are working fine as expected or not, and Sanity testing is a shallow and quick solution to figure out if it is reasonable to go ahead with further testing stages or not.

What are different types of testing?

The different types of testsUnit tests. Unit tests are very low level and close to the source of an application. ... Integration tests. ... Functional tests. ... End-to-end tests. ... Acceptance testing. ... Performance testing. ... Smoke testing.

What is meant by ad hoc testing?

Adhoc testing is a type of software testing which is performed informally and randomly after the formal testing is completed to find out any loophole in the system. For this reason, it is also known as Random testing or Monkey testing.

What is ad hoc testing example?

Examples of Adhoc Tests Testing for the proper working of an application when the browser settings are different. For example, identifying errors that occur when the option for JavaScript is disabled in different browsers, etc. Testing the application across platforms.

When should you do exploratory testing?

When should you use exploratory testing? Exploratory testing is suited for specific testing scenarios, such as when someone needs to learn about a product or application quickly and provide rapid feedback. It helps review the quality of a product from a user perspective.

Why exploratory testing is required for agile projects?

It will help an Agile team define and develop the application throughout its lifecycle. An exploratory tester asks questions of the application that scripted testing can't. This helps the development team write better code to improve the application's quality.

When you would use scripted testing vs exploratory testing and why?

While exploratory testing gives testers the freedom to use their instinct, skills, and experience for detailed testing, scripted testing requires testers to follow a series of guidelines to verify if the actual result is as intended.

How do you manage exploratory testing?

4 Steps for Managing Exploratory TestingStrategize coverage before the test cycle. ... Have clear requirements for documentation. ... Review submitted notes at the end of the cycle. ... Maintain open communication between testers and engineers.

What is exploratory testing?

Definition. Exploratory testing is, more than strictly speaking a “practice,” a style or approach to testing software which is often contrasted to “scripted testing,” and characterized by the following aspects among others: it recommends performing various test-related activities (such as test design, test execution, ...

Is exploratory testing still gaining acceptance?

In spite of this mixed influence, exploratory testing is still slowly gaining acceptance as part of a broader “Agile testing” skill set.

What is exploratory testing?

In layman terms, exploratory testing involves concurrent test case design and test execution of an application or system under test. The tester will create or write down a test idea to give direction, and explore the system while testing to further create critical, practical and useful tests for the successful testing of an application.

Why is exploratory testing useful in agile?

Exploratory testing becomes handy in such tight deadlines because in this testing approach emphasis is on the quick and useful result.

Why should testers swap roles?

Testers involved should swap roles so that the testing resource who created the test script has a chance to re-execute the scripts to confirm the reliability & robustness of the created suite.

What depends on tester experience, skill, and knowledge?

Testing depends on tester experience, skill, and knowledge.

What is a pair test?

Pair Testing is an approach in which two people test the same thing/feature of the application at the same time by sharing a PC. They continuously share their thoughts and ideas. During this testing, one person takes charge of the keyboard whereas the other person suggests test cases and takes note.

Is it advisable to perform active eat with pair testing?

It is advisable to perform Active EAT with Pair Testing. In this approach, the Keyword Driven testing is used in sync with Session testing. One tester creates the automated test script and the second tester executes the test scripts created by the first tester.

Can passive eat be performed by a single tester?

Passive EAT can be performed by a single tester or in a pair as well. In this methodology, usually, a tool, which captures and records every single activity performed by a testing resource (s) and is installed on the resource’s PC.

What is exploratory testing?

Exploratory testing opens testing to all key stakeholders and not just trained testers. Using an exploratory testing tool, one can capture screenshots, record voice memos and annotate feedback during sessions. This enables faster and more efficient review, by people beyond the traditional software tester.

When is iteration required in software testing?

In many software cycles, an early iteration is required when teams don’t have much time to structure the tests. Exploratory testing is quite helpful in this scenario.

Can a tester convert exploratory testing sequences into functional test scripts?

Furthermore, the tester can convert exploratory testing sequences into functional test scripts using tools for automated test case documentation. This reinforces the traditional testing process.

Is exploratory testing part of QA?

The practice of exploratory testing has gathered momentum in recent years. Tester s and QA managers are encouraged to include exploratory testing as part of a comprehensive test coverage strategy.

Can testers annotate defects?

Testers can annotate defects, add assertions and voice memos, and create documentation on the fly. This is how a user story is converted into a test case. This information can also be used for QA. Effectively, test execution is implemented without formally authoring test steps.

Is scripted testing regulated?

Especially with any type of testing that is regulated or compliance-based, scripted testing is the way to go. In compliance based testing, where certain checklists and mandates need to be followed for legal reasons, it is advised to stick to scripted testing.

Can exploratory testing be used in scripted testing?

Organizations must be able to strike the right balance between exploratory testing and scripted testing. Exploratory testing alone can’t offer adequate coverage and teams shouldn’t attempt it unless they have reached a few initial milestones.

What is Exploratory Testing?

Over the years since the 1980’s, many definitions of exploratory testing have been proposed by many of its practitioners and evangelists.

What are the advantages of exploratory testing?

Exploratory testing can be performed in many ways. In fact, a key advantage of exploratory testing is that it can be free-form in nature.

What is the purpose of practitest?

PractiTest has the capability to indicate if a test is an exploratory test. (Figure 3) This has great value as the value from exploratory testing becomes very tangible as seen in fresh, repeatable tests that are clearly documented and managed.

Why is testing automation important in agile?

In agile testing, much emphasis may be placed upon test automation in order to keep up with the pace of short iterations and sprints. However, this depends on the ability of the team to be able to implement and maintain such automation.

Is exploratory testing an agile test?

However, that is not always the case. Certainly, there is no automatic connection between agile testing and exploratory testing.

Can exploratory testing be done quickly?

Exploratory testing can be done quickly, especially if the objectives are defined well and people are skilled in the practice. This speed of testing can be a good fit for agile methods with short iterations for testing. However, not all testing in agile is manual.

Does Jira have test management?

If you are using Jira as your test management tool, there is a plugin available for Jira Cloud to help document the results of your testing. And, there are test management plugins to Jira with their own exploratory testing features.

What is exploratory testing?

Exploratory testing is widely used in Agile models, and it allows testers to go beyond the limits of scripted testing. Think of scripted testing as taking a train. It's on rails. It will never deviate from that path. Exploratory testing is more like driving a car.

Why is exploratory testing important?

Because you are not bound by the test case steps, exploratory testing lets you find important defects faster. It allows you to cover more ground and focus on testing the “what ifs.”. For example, let’s say you’re assigned to test the “Edit Bookmark” functional area in a product.

Why combine exploratory testing with scripted testing?

Combining exploratory testing with mandated scripted testing can keep your test effort strong and reduce the risk of defects in the release.

Why do you find more defects in exploratory testing?

You find more defects with exploratory testing because you have more latitude to try different types of tests while using your past experience and knowledge of the product.

Which test finds more defects?

However, exploratory testing finds more defects. Here are some statistics: On average, exploratory testing discovers 11% more overall defects than scripted testing.

How to test a software application?

1. Classify the bugs. Categorize the kinds of problems most commonly found in past projects. Seek the root cause of these problems. Identify the risks and develop ideas to test the application. 2. Create a test charter. Identify what to test, how it can be tested, and what factors to consider.

What is the role of a tester in a test?

Testers react to the response of the application and prepare for the correct outcome.

What is Exploratory Testing?

I’m sure you could search around and find a hundred definitions of exploratory testing, but I’m going to define it like this:

Why is Exploratory Testing important?

Without carrying out exploratory testing, there’s an increased risk of missing not only significant functional issues but also the small details that users will notice.

When should you carry out this type of Testing?

Exploratory testing can take place as soon as software is available , but the tester’s involvement should begin much earlier. Because exploratory testing is all about exploring and gathering information, context gained from being involved throughout the design process allows the tester to identify what information is important or useful more easily. This context means that whether it’s just one field on a bootstrapped page or the completed functionality, they can start exploring as soon as there is something to test. You can then work with the developer and product owner to catch things as early as possible, continually communicating with each other on progress and findings.

What is software exploration?

When you explore software, you’re looking for anything that seems different or out of place. You’re on the lookout for inconsistencies with the rest of the software, and testing values and inputs that people may not have considered.

Why is it important to explore and manipulate the payload you send and receive?

Exploring and manipulating the payload you send and receive, the headers, caching, and so on, of an API, can supply a lot of relevant information. Accessing this earlier in the development process can potentially save time later by not having to fix code or make changes where API calls are generated.

What is exploratory testing?

Exploratory testing is an adventure, and adventures are fun! This approach to testing empowers the tester to steer the direction of the test and promotes a creative way of thinking. With this type of testing, we leave the rules, formal structure, and documentation behind and use our instinct to drive the test.

Is there a record of what's been tested?

There’s often no true record of what’s been tested with exploratory testing. This makes it difficult to measure test coverage and provide the confidence that enough testing has been done. It’s also possible to overlook bugs when testing “on the fly” like this. A pre-defined set of test cases often helps ensure proper test coverage.

What Is Exploratory Testing?

Exploratory testing is a form of software testing that is performed to establish the feasibility of a product. In other testing methods, which we’ll get to below, test cases are created in advance and then executed at a later stage. Whereas exploratory testing involves simultaneously designing and executing the test. Exploratory testers need to be able to think and take action quickly rather than follow laid out steps.

Why do we use exploratory testing and scripted testing together?

Pairing scripted and exploratory testing together provides a more holistic approach to software testing, as it diversifies the process and allows for a more complete analysis of the software.

What is scripted testing?

Scripted testing is essentially testing from a draft – the tester follows the instructions, and there is no need to deviate from the draft. Exploratory testing activates thinking and problem-solving in testers and is more spontaneous.

What is the difference between exploratory and scripted testing?

In other words, it doesn’t require much thinking as all of the steps are already laid out. Exploratory testing emphasises the concepts of learning and adapting, while scripted testing emphasises the concepts of prediction and decision making. Scripted testing is essentially testing from a draft – the tester follows the instructions, ...

Why is exploratory testing used in Agile?

Exploratory testing is often used in Agile models because it links up with the concepts of discovering, investigating, ...

What are the challenges of exploratory testing?

It can be hard to learn to use the software system, replicate the failures encountered during the process, and to document everything that occurs in the test period. It can also be hard to know when to stop testing, as there aren’t defined test scripts to follow.

How many stages are there in exploratory testing?

Exploratory testing can also be called Session-Based Test Management (SBTM) and is performed in five stages.

What is exploratory testing?

Exploratory testing is a form of software testing in which the actual test cases the tester will perform aren’t defined beforehand. Instead, the person or group performing the testing decides what they will do while performing the tests.

Why is exploratory testing important?

It helps testers, and QA professionals know a given system. Exploratory testing helps newcomers to a team get to know a given application, for instance. It can be a precursor to automated testing. While performing exploratory testing, testers might discover test cases that are good candidates for automation.

What is Testim testing?

Testim is an AI-powered test automation tool.

What is required to test without a predefined plan?

Testing without a predefined plan might require highly experienced professionals with domain knowledge related to the application under test.

Is exploratory testing applicable to every scenario?

Exploratory testing isn’t necessarily applicable to every scenario. Rather, it’s an approach that might suit certain teams and scenarios while not being particularly recommended for others. And that’s A-OK. But if you want to make an educated decision on whether exploratory testing is for you, you’ve got to be able to determine which of those scenarios you’re currently in.

Is exploratory testing good for software development?

Benefits and Pitfalls. There’s no silver bullet in software development. Every process, technique, or tool has its share of flaws, and exploratory testing isn’t an exception. Here are some of the most important benefits of exploratory testing: There’s less preparation required.

Is exploratory testing a test automation?

And to answer the question we’ve posed at the beginning of this section: no, manual exploratory testing isn’t at odds with test automation— quite the contrary. Exploratory testing, if done it right, might act as a bridge to automation. It might serve as a discovery phase to figure out the test cases that are worth automating.