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EXPLORATORY TESTING
This testing is similar to the ad-hoc testing and is done in order to learn/explore the application.
Exploratory software testing is a powerful and fun approach to testing. In some situations, it can be orders of magnitude more productive than scripted testing. At least unconsciously, testers perform exploratory testing at one time or another. Yet it doesn't get much respect in our field. It can be considered as “Scientific Thinking” at real time.
Exploratory testing is a method of manual testing that is concisely described as simultaneous learning, test design and test execution. Cem Kaner, who coined the term in 1983, now defines exploratory testing as "a style of software testing that emphasizes the personal freedom and responsibility of the individual tester to continually optimize the quality of his/her work by treating test-related learning, test design, test execution, and test result interpretation as mutually supportive activities that run in parallel throughout the project.".
While the software is being tested, the tester learns things that together with experience and creativity generates new good tests to run. 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. The key is not the test technique nor the item being tested or reviewed; the key is the cognitive engagement of the tester, and the tester's responsibility for managing his or her time.
HISTORY
Exploratory testing has always been performed by skilled testers. In the early 1990s, ad hoc was too often synonymous with sloppy and careless work. As a result, a group of test methodologists (now calling themselves the Context-Driven School) began using the term "exploratory" seeking to emphasize the dominant thought process involved in unscripted testing, and to begin to develop the practice into a teachable discipline. This new terminology was first published by Cem Kaner in his book Testing Computer Software and expanded upon in Lessons Learned in Software Testing. Exploratory testing can be as disciplined as any other intellectual activity.
Disadvantages are that the tests can't be reviewed in advance (and by that prevent errors in code and test cases), and that it can be difficult to show exactly which tests have been run.
When repeating freestyle exploratory tests, they will not be performed in the exact same manner, which can be an advantage if it is important to find new errors; or a disadvantage if it is more important to know that exact things are functional
USAGE
Exploratory testing is extra suitable if requirements and specifications are incomplete, or if there is lack of time. The approach can also be used to verify that previous testing has found the most important defects. It is common to perform a combination of exploratory and scripted testing where the choice is based on risk.
This testing is similar to the ad-hoc testing and is done in order to learn/explore the application.
Exploratory software testing is a powerful and fun approach to testing. In some situations, it can be orders of magnitude more productive than scripted testing. At least unconsciously, testers perform exploratory testing at one time or another. Yet it doesn't get much respect in our field. It can be considered as “Scientific Thinking” at real time.
Exploratory testing is a method of manual testing that is concisely described as simultaneous learning, test design and test execution. Cem Kaner, who coined the term in 1983, now defines exploratory testing as "a style of software testing that emphasizes the personal freedom and responsibility of the individual tester to continually optimize the quality of his/her work by treating test-related learning, test design, test execution, and test result interpretation as mutually supportive activities that run in parallel throughout the project.".
While the software is being tested, the tester learns things that together with experience and creativity generates new good tests to run. 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. The key is not the test technique nor the item being tested or reviewed; the key is the cognitive engagement of the tester, and the tester's responsibility for managing his or her time.
HISTORY
Exploratory testing has always been performed by skilled testers. In the early 1990s, ad hoc was too often synonymous with sloppy and careless work. As a result, a group of test methodologists (now calling themselves the Context-Driven School) began using the term "exploratory" seeking to emphasize the dominant thought process involved in unscripted testing, and to begin to develop the practice into a teachable discipline. This new terminology was first published by Cem Kaner in his book Testing Computer Software and expanded upon in Lessons Learned in Software Testing. Exploratory testing can be as disciplined as any other intellectual activity.
Disadvantages are that the tests can't be reviewed in advance (and by that prevent errors in code and test cases), and that it can be difficult to show exactly which tests have been run.
When repeating freestyle exploratory tests, they will not be performed in the exact same manner, which can be an advantage if it is important to find new errors; or a disadvantage if it is more important to know that exact things are functional
USAGE
Exploratory testing is extra suitable if requirements and specifications are incomplete, or if there is lack of time. The approach can also be used to verify that previous testing has found the most important defects. It is common to perform a combination of exploratory and scripted testing where the choice is based on risk.
DESCRIPTION
Exploratory testing seeks to find out how the software actually works, and to ask questions about how it will handle difficult and easy cases. The testing is dependent on the tester's skill of inventing test cases and finding defects. The more the tester knows about the product and different test methods, the better the testing will be. To further explain, comparison can be made of freestyle exploratory testing to the antithesis scripted testing, which basically means that test cases are designed in advance, including steps to reproduce and expected results. These tests are later performed by a tester who compares the actual result with the expected.
Exploratory testing seeks to find out how the software actually works, and to ask questions about how it will handle difficult and easy cases. The testing is dependent on the tester's skill of inventing test cases and finding defects. The more the tester knows about the product and different test methods, the better the testing will be. To further explain, comparison can be made of freestyle exploratory testing to the antithesis scripted testing, which basically means that test cases are designed in advance, including steps to reproduce and expected results. These tests are later performed by a tester who compares the actual result with the expected.
When performing exploratory testing, there are no exact expected results; it is the tester that decides what will be verified, critically investigating the correctness of the result. In reality, testing almost always is a combination of exploratory and scripted testing, but with a tendency towards either one, depending on context.
The documentation of exploratory testing ranges from documenting all tests performed to just documenting the bugs. During pair testing, two persons create test cases together; one performs them, and the other documents. Session-based testing is a method specifically designed to make exploratory testing auditable and measurable on a wider scale.
BENEFITS & DRAWBACKS
The main advantage of exploratory testing is that less preparation is needed, important bugs are found fast, and is more intellectually stimulating than scripted testing. Another major benefit is that testers can use deductive reasoning based on the results of previous results to guide their future testing on the fly. They do not have to complete a current series of scripted tests before focusing in on or moving on to exploring a more target rich environment. This also accelerates bug detection when used intelligently. Another benefit is that, after initial testing, most bugs are discovered by some sort of exploratory testing. This can be demonstrated logically by stating, "Programs that pass certain tests tend to continue to pass the same tests and are more likely to fail other tests or scenarios that are yet to be explored."
The documentation of exploratory testing ranges from documenting all tests performed to just documenting the bugs. During pair testing, two persons create test cases together; one performs them, and the other documents. Session-based testing is a method specifically designed to make exploratory testing auditable and measurable on a wider scale.
BENEFITS & DRAWBACKS
The main advantage of exploratory testing is that less preparation is needed, important bugs are found fast, and is more intellectually stimulating than scripted testing. Another major benefit is that testers can use deductive reasoning based on the results of previous results to guide their future testing on the fly. They do not have to complete a current series of scripted tests before focusing in on or moving on to exploring a more target rich environment. This also accelerates bug detection when used intelligently. Another benefit is that, after initial testing, most bugs are discovered by some sort of exploratory testing. This can be demonstrated logically by stating, "Programs that pass certain tests tend to continue to pass the same tests and are more likely to fail other tests or scenarios that are yet to be explored."
| ■ | Load Testing |
| ■ | Stress Testing |
| ■ | Domain Testing |
| ■ | Exploratory Testing |
| ■ | Recovery Testing |
| ■ | User Acceptance Testing |
| ■ | Alpha Testing |
| ■ | Beta Testing |
| ■ | Unit Testing |
| ■ | Static & Dynamic Analysis Testing |
| ■ | Functional Testing |
| ■ | Ad-hoc Testing |
| ■ | Volume Testing |
Exploratory Testing