What is Exploratory Testing and When to Use It?

As QA engineers, we will know systematic testing methods such as test case execution, regression testing and functional testing. But there is another testing strategy that has been driving an impact in the software development lifecycle which is the Exploratory Testing (ET). Knowledge of what it is, when to use it and how it is useful will help raise the quality of your tests.

In this guide, we'll explore what exploratory testing in software testing is and when to implement it effectively. Whether you're new to testing or a seasoned QA professional, understanding these concepts will help you enhance your testing approach. Let’s dive in.

What is Exploratory Testing?

Exploratory testing is a software testing type that explores the application, learns about its functionality, and identifies defects without writing test cases or scripts. Exploratory testing is all about testers applying their experience, intuition, and creativity to explore the application to identify areas that may not be covered by traditional test cases.

It is an approach that blends learning, test design, and execution, all in real time. Unlike scripted testing, where each step is predefined, exploratory testing allows testers to use their critical thinking skills to identify problems that might be missed by a more rigid process.

Key Characteristics of Exploratory Testing

1. Simultaneous Test Design and Execution: The tester designs and runs tests at the same time. As they test, they adapt their strategy based on findings, adjusting test coverage according to real-time results.
2. Flexible and Adaptive: There's no strict plan or test cases. Testers are free to follow different paths and explore areas that seem interesting or critical.
3. Focus on Discovery: It’s a discovery-driven process, where testers learn about the application while testing it. This learning feeds into the test strategy as it evolves.
4. Expertise-Based: Exploratory testing is heavily dependent on the tester's knowledge of the domain, their intuition and experience. Understanding how the application works and where it could break is more than just finding a bug.
5. Emphasis on Critical Thinking and Creativity: Testers utilize creative cognitive faculties to stretch their limits as they are required to look outside of scripted tests to find hidden problems that routine test cycles may not cover.

The Role of Exploratory Testing in the QA Process

In traditional software development, testing is often seen as a sequential activity: you write test cases, execute them, report bugs, and repeat them. But this structured approach doesn’t always catch the nuanced and unexpected issues that arise in real-world usage. This is where exploratory testing comes into play.

Here’s How Exploratory Testing Complements Traditional QA Approaches

1. Supplementing Automated Tests: Automated tests can cover not only repetitive scenarios but also exploratory testing, which is highly important to test boundary conditions and human actions that a script cannot perform. Features tested can reveal defects that are often difficult to encode in an automation script.
2. Risk-Based Testing: This exploratory testing is typically risk-based and testers can narrow down high-risk areas like complex features or important workflows. This helps you if the priorities change or new information arises during testing so that you are able to tailor the testing to these circumstances accordingly.
3. Uncovering Usability Issues: In addition to functional bugs tested through traditional exploratory testing, it is also used to find usability issues. Testers can identify problems that hinder the user experience: a confusing UI, slow speeds, or unfollowable navigation paths.
4. Regression Testing: Regression tests can be automated but exploratory testing can be valuable in regression cycles too where testers tend to test continuously with a little bit of everything which leads to the discovery of some out-of-the-box defects that have not been captured within the scope of automation.
5. Detecting Unforeseen Defects: Exploratory testing encourages testers to behave surgically and unguided and it opens up to obscure defects that do not fit well with existing test cases. Often finding high-impact bugs that only appear in edge conditions.

Suggested Reads- A Complete Guide on Regression Testing

Exploratory Testing vs Scripted Testing (Key Differences)

Understanding when to use exploratory testing requires knowing how it differs from traditional scripted testing. Here are the key differences:

While scripted testing excels at providing confirmation of behaviour and functionality as defined by requirements, exploratory testing works wonders for finding unexpected problems that don't neatly map onto predefined test cases.

When to Use Exploratory Testing with (Examples)

1. When There is Little Documentation or Incomplete Requirements

When the requirements are not clear, complete or evolving exploratory testing will be a great fit. You can create your test cases not by writing detailed specifications to create it but by just starting testing based on what you know about the application and how you expect it should behave. Your exploration of the system will teach you for each test, and as you do these tests, they become more precise.

• Example: Testing a new feature that hasn’t been fully documented yet. You can explore how the feature behaves in different scenarios, document your findings, and create better test cases as you discover more.

2. When Testing Complex or New Features

For complex or new features that may not yet have detailed test cases, exploratory testing can help uncover edge cases and issues that scripted tests might miss. Exploratory testing allows you to think creatively and approach the feature from various angles, including scenarios that weren't initially considered.

• Example: A newly developed payment gateway might have lots of integration points, and there’s a need to test it under various conditions (different currencies, payment methods, etc.).

3. When There Is Limited Time for Test Execution

In situations where testing time is constrained, exploratory testing can provide a quicker and more efficient way to assess the software. Testers can dive into the most critical areas and use their judgment to identify the most impactful defects within a short time frame.

• Example: A quick test before a product release or an emergency bug fix where time is of the essence. You can focus on the areas most likely to break and verify that they work under real-world conditions.

4. To Find Unexpected or Hidden Defects

Exploratory testing is ideal for discovering defects that wouldn't typically be found with structured test cases. Bugs related to unusual workflows, data combinations, or system behaviours are often caught by testers who think outside the box.

• Example: An issue with a rare combination of form fields or a problem only encountered when multiple users are interacting with the system simultaneously.

5. In Agile Environments

In Agile development, where requirements and features can change frequently, exploratory testing can be a great complement to traditional testing practices. It aligns well with the fast-paced, iterative nature of Agile methodologies and allows testers to adjust quickly to changing priorities.

• Example: During the final sprint of an Agile release cycle, testers can use exploratory testing to focus on any last-minute features, ensuring they meet user expectations and function correctly.

6. When Testing for Usability and User Experience

While traditional testing focuses on functional correctness, exploratory testing is great for assessing the usability and overall user experience of an application. Testers can experiment with workflows, layouts, and navigation to identify issues that might impact users.

• Example: Testing a new mobile app and evaluating whether users can easily navigate through the app without confusion.

Best Practices for Exploratory Testing

To get the most out of exploratory testing, consider the following best practices:

1. Set Clear Objectives: Even though exploratory testing is unscripted, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish. Define key areas to explore and focus on important features, high-risk areas, or user journeys.
2. Time-Boxing: Set a time limit for each exploratory test session. This helps focus efforts and ensures you stay productive without feeling overwhelmed.
3. Keep Notes: Document your observations, test scenarios, and discovered issues. This will help you track the results and make it easier to write defect reports later.
4. Use Session-Based Test Management (SBTM): SBTM is a type of exploratory testing with structured reporting. This is a time-boxed session where testers will explore the application and document their findings in a structured format. This makes sure that exploratory testing isn't so broad as to be unmanageable.
5. Collaborate with Developers: Exploratory testing tends to yield the best results when collaboration between testers and developers exists. If you share both your wins and challenges as they happen, then you have many opportunities for collecting feedback that might help solve the problems faster.

Suggested Reads- Alpha vs Beta Software Testing: Key Differences

Conclusion

Exploratory testing is one of the fundamental skills for testers; an exploratory test allows so much creativity that it really can not be scripted. Exploratory testing can also be helpful with identifying hidden defects, and usability issues and improving overall product quality for the veteran QA engineers out there. Knowing where exploratory testing fits best, and the right practices to use it in will help you get the most out of exploratory testing as a whole, and remain a more complete tester.

Explore testing is an essential methodology to uncover unanticipated issues, and as software development continues evolving, exploratory testing will stay important for assuring seamless-to-use applications with high quality.

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Need Expert Help? 

Looking to enhance your testing strategy? F22 Labs combines expert exploratory testing with comprehensive QA solutions to uncover critical defects other methods might miss. Our experienced team can help you implement efficient testing workflows, reduce time-to-market, and ensure exceptional software quality through our proven methodologies and industry best practices.