Exploratory Testing: Beyond Boundaries

Exploratory testing in software testing

Software testing is a crucial stage in the software development life cycle because, with the help of this, the respective applications meet quality standards as expected. Exploratory testing is a part of software testing and is more suitable than other testing methods. In this guide, we will explore what exploratory testing is, its benefits, its types, and how it is helpful to other testing methodologies.

Table of contents

• What is exploratory testing?
• When does exploratory testing make sense?
• Advantages of exploratory testing
• Disadvantages of exploratory testing
• Skills required for exploratory testing
• Comparison of exploratory testing with others
  • Exploratory testing vs. Automated testing
  • Exploratory testing vs. Adhoc testing
• Types of exploratory testing
  • Freestyle exploratory testing
  • Scenario-based exploratory testing
  • Strategy-based exploratory testing
• Real-life example of exploratory testing
• Commonly asked questions on exploratory testing
  • Is exploratory testing black-box testing?
  • Can exploratory testing be automated?
  • Is exploratory testing required for agile?
• Conclusion

What is exploratory testing?

Exploratory testing is a popular software testing method in which testers explore or understand the flow of the application in all possible ways due to the unavailability of requirements or predefined test cases. It mainly involves understanding the application first and trying different scenarios. After that, testers simultaneously design and execute new test cases without any predefined or prewritten test cases or scripts.

After the first round of exploring the application, testers have to identify potential scenarios with the help of their own creativity and prepare a document based on those scenarios. Testers then test the application by referring to that document and start testing the application’s functionalities without the help of predefined scripts or test cases. It is the very opposite of a classic testing method, which follows a detailed plan for the testing. Exploratory testing improves testers’ creativity and ability to navigate the entire application like a regular user.

In this type of software testing, testers are free to choose any methodology to test the software and understand the product’s quality and user experience. The testers use their knowledge, skills, and abilities to thoroughly test the developed software to identify and register functional and technical issues. Lastly, it requires minimal planning as testers spontaneously decide what features and actions to test; that’s why exploratory testing is widely used to enhance the overall software quality.

When does exploratory testing make sense?

Case 1

Exploratory testing is done when there are no clear requirements or if the requirement documents are missing. Testers explore and learn the application without predefined test cases, note what they find, and then perform testing based on those discoveries, reporting any bugs they encounter.

Case 2

It’s also very suitable when there are tight deadlines or the software keeps changing a lot in the development process. When the software gets nearer to completion, the exploratory testing helps ensure it works well for the end users. It’s great for detecting unexpected issues, even when there’s little time to create detailed test plans. Additionally, as the software keeps growing and changing, exploratory testing is helpful to check that new features don’t mess up the things already working fine.

Case 3

Suppose a testing team has some experienced testers who are testing critical applications, and some new testers join the team. In that case, exploratory testing can be a helpful learning approach for newcomers. This type of testing allows for hands-on investigation, helping new team members understand the application’s complex parts and create a better testing environment. It provides complete test coverage and helps grow each team member’s skills.

Advantages of exploratory testing

Easy adaptation 

Testers can modify their testing strategy based on their findings, making it easier to identify difficult bugs that may not appear during planned or actual test case execution.

Real-life testing 

The testers perform as regular users here, ensuring the software works like it should in real-life situations. This way, they can spot any issues that may cause trouble or confuse the users.

Saves time 

It’s faster than other testing methods because testers don’t have to follow a strict test plan. This testing speed is essential for keeping up with the rapid development process.

Finds problems early 

It’s good at catching the bugs early in the development process, which is cheaper to fix. Addressing these issues on time results in lower costs and less time spent in the future.

Disadvantages of exploratory testing

Limited reproducibility

Exploratory testing can be tricky because the exact steps taken during testing might not be easy to repeat. This makes it hard to get the same results consistently. It could create a challenge when other team members need to recreate the same testing conditions.

Documentation challenges

Another drawback is that it might be easy to miss writing down some necessary steps during exploratory testing. This lack of proper documentation can make it challenging to track what worked or didn’t, complicating the testing process.

Dependency on tester skills and availability

The success of exploratory testing depends greatly on the testers’ skills and experience. If the testers are not very experienced or their skills are not up to par, they might struggle to find essential issues or bugs. Again, Effective exploratory testing requires constant attention and focus from the testers. If a tester is not available or there are interruptions during testing, it can impact the overall success of the testing process.

Difficulty in measuring progress

One last challenge with exploratory testing is that because there’s no fixed plan, it’s hard to measure how much testing has been done. This lack of precise measurement makes it difficult to know how well the testing progresses.

Skills required for exploratory testing

Exploratory testing depends heavily on the tester’s skills and mindset, which makes it a dynamic and creative approach to testing. To effectively perform exploratory testing, testers should possess the following skills:

Critical thinking 

Exploratory testing requires exploring and checking the software under test from different test scenarios. Testers must think deeply to identify potential issues, discover hidden bugs, and decide where to focus their testing actions.

Creativity 

Testers should be able to think outside the box and develop creative testing scenarios. They must explore different scenarios and test paths that scripted test cases may not cover. Creative thinking helps testers find unique defects and ensure complete test coverage.

User viewpoint 

Exploratory testers should have the ability to think like end users. They should consider how end users use the software, their expectations, and the possible use cases. This user-centric mindset helps the testers identify usability issues, evaluate the software’s responsiveness, and provide a better user experience.

Communication skills 

Effective communication skills are essential for exploratory testers. They must connect with development teams, product owners, and other stakeholders to collect information, share insights, and report defects. Clear and concise communication helps communicate results and ensures efficient teamwork within the testing team.

Domain knowledge 

Testers should have a solid knowledge of the software’s domain. This ability helps them ask relevant questions, identify potential risks, and design test scenarios that fulfill domain-specific requirements. Domain knowledge also helps testers discover defects specific to the industry or application context.

Attention to detail 

Testers should have a sharp eye to detect even the most minor defects. They need to seriously monitor the system behavior, user interfaces, and data flows, which will ensure no issues go unnoticed.

Comparison of exploratory testing with others

Exploratory testing vs. Automated testing

Features	Exploratory testing	Automated testing
Execution approach	Testers manually explore the software without any requirements or predefine test cases	With the help of automation scripts, testers run the tests without any manual involvement
Test case creation	Testers create test cases on the spot as they explore the software	Pre-written scripts define test cases before execution
Testing speed	Can take time due to manual effort	Faster execution, especially for repetitive tests
Test coverage	Detailed investigation of various testing scenarios	Good for repetitive tests, but may miss unique scenarios
Tool dependency	Relies more on tester skills, with fewer tool dependencies	Highly dependent on automation tools and frameworks
Test iteration time	Longer test iteration cycles due to manual exploration	Shorter test iteration cycles, ideal for repetitive tests
Dynamic adjustments	Quick adjustments during testing based on real-time observations	Requires script modifications for adjustments
Learning curve	Higher learning curve requires scripting and tools expertise	Higher learning curve; requires scripting and tools expertise

Note
Automated testing is a software testing technique in which specialized automation tools and scripts execute pre-defined test cases and verify the expected results of a software application. Many automation tools are available, including Selenium, Cypress, and Cucumber.

Exploratory testing vs. Adhoc testing

Features	Exploratory testing	Ad hoc testing
Definition	Ad hoc testing is a random approach in which the tester already knows the application and uses his skills to test different parts of it randomly.	Ad hoc testing is a random approach where the tester already knows the application and uses his skills to test different parts of the application randomly.
Planning	Unplanned but documented and structured	Unplanned and undocumented
Goal	Uncover defects and learn about the application	General testing to uncover defects
Coverage	Comprehensive coverage through organized testing	Less structured, may miss some areas
Learning	High focus on understanding and learning the app	Less focus on learning the application
Documentation	Thorough documentation of testing activities needed	Minimal documentation is enough
Efficiency	Effective in finding critical and high-impact issues	May miss critical scenarios
Size	General performed in bigger-sized projects	Done on small-sized projects

Types of exploratory testing

Freestyle exploratory testing

Freestyle exploratory testing is where testers explore the application in an ad-hoc and unstructured manner. They do not have any predefined rules to follow. This approach is usually used to verify the work done by other testers, investigate specific bug defects, or perform rapid smoke tests. The lack of a standardized plan makes it flexible and suitable for identifying unexpected issues and getting a quick overview of the software’s functionality.

Scenario-based exploratory testing

Testers mainly focus on real user scenarios in scenario-based exploratory testing to provide complete test coverage. Testers consider each scenario and then explore the software application in all possible ways to match that scenario. The goal is to test as many scenarios as possible to provide maximum test coverage for the application. Also, this method helps to identify critical paths and improve the testing to match user experience.

Strategy-based exploratory testing

Strategy-based exploratory testing involves a more organized method, typically assigned to testers already familiar with the software under test. Testers strategically apply boundary-value analysis, equivalence partitioning, and risk-based testing to find challenging bugs. This method combines structured testing methodologies with the flexibility of exploratory testing, allowing for a more targeted analysis of critical areas.

Real-life example of exploratory testing

Suppose you’re testing the checkout page of an e-commerce web application, but you don’t have any documents to guide you.

Here’s what you can do:

As the tester, start by exploring the entire e-commerce website. Invest your time in becoming familiar with the different sections and features of the application, but focus on the checkout module in particular. If you are not aware of the domain before, take guidance from the seniors or even try the competitive products/applications already in the markets.

Once you have a basic understanding of the application, start looking at the checkout page. Identify critical parts such as address entry, payment options, order summary, and other elements required to complete a purchase.

Without proper requirements, you have to follow a scenario-based approach. You have to test by imagining yourself as a user trying to buy something. This process helps create real testing scenarios, such as adding items to the cart, changing quantities, and selecting various products.

Randomly test with extreme values in all possible input fields. Put too long or short data for names, addresses, or payment details. Observe how the system handles these boundary conditions and check for unexpected behavior or errors.

Test different payment methods (cards, UPI, COD), try to add or edit payment details, and ensure the payment transaction is secure. Verify that the selected payment method is valid in the order summary.

Test the checkout form submission with variations. Try different scenarios of filling out the form or intentionally leaving certain fields blank. Check if the system provides precise and appropriate error messaging.

To identify compatibility issues, execute the checkout process on different browsers and devices. Verify that the page is responsive and displays correctly across various platforms. Also, explore how the checkout page handles sessions. Initiate a checkout, leave the page, and return to complete the process again. Ensure the user’s session is maintained, and the system resumes the checkout process seamlessly.

Please make sure to review the order summary section thoroughly. Verify that the items, quantities, and prices displayed accurately match the selected products. It’s vital to test edge cases, such as trying to checkout with an empty cart or exceeding maximum quantities.

Lastly, you must create new test cases or scripts based on these scenarios and execute the tests.

Commonly asked questions on exploratory testing

Is exploratory testing black-box testing?

Yes.

Exploratory testing is often considered a form of black box testing because testers check how the software works without knowing any details of its internal code. They explore and find issues without using specific pre-planned tests, just like in black-box testing, where the focus is on what the software does, not how it’s made.

Can exploratory testing be automated?

No.

While automation can support exploratory testing, it cannot fully replace the human element in exploring complex systems and identifying unforeseen issues. Exploratory testing is a hands-on process where testers explore the software, find issues, and learn as they go.

Is exploratory testing required for agile?

Yes.

Exploratory testing is like a perfect match for Agile. In the Agile process, things change a lot, and exploratory testing is super flexible to fulfill that need. Testers can quickly explore the software, find any issues, and adapt as needed. It’s not a strict rule but an excellent fit for Agile’s dynamic and fast-paced practice.

Final thoughts on mastering exploratory testing

In conclusion, exploratory testing is a highly beneficial and flexible approach that helps testers identify crucial defects, use real-world scenarios, and make the software application more robust. By including exploratory testing with other testing methodologies, development teams can improve their testing processes, enhance collaboration, and deliver top-quality software products to end-users.

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