Exploratory Testing

Explore the application understand each and every features,based on understanding identify all possible scenarios and document it, refer the documented scenarios and test the application is called Exploratory testing.

Drawback:
Test engineer might misunderstand feature as defect and defect as feature.
If any feature are not implement test engineer may not be able to find it.

Below are some tips/tricks that you can use in ET:

• Divide the application into modules and bifurcate modules into different pages. Start your ET from the pages. This will give the right coverage.
• Make a checklist of all the features and put a check mark when that is covered.
• Start with a basic scenario and then gradually enhance it to add more features to test it.
• Test all the input fields.
• Test for the error message
• Test all the negative scenarios.
• Check the GUI against the standards.
• Check the integration of the application with other external applications.
• Check for complex business logic.
• Try to do the ethical hacking of the application.

Types of Exploratory Testing

Given below are a few types of ET:

1) Freestyle ET:

Exploration of application in ad-hoc style.

In this type of ET, there are no rules, no account for coverage, etc. However, this type of testing is good when you need to familiarize with the application quickly, when you want to verify the work of the other testers, and when you want to investigate a defect or want to do a quick smoke test.

2) Scenario-based ET:

As the name itself suggests, testing done is scenario-based. It starts with real user’s scenarios, end-to-end scenarios or test scenarios. After initial testing, testers can inject variation as per their learning and observation.

Scenarios are like a generic guide for what to do during ET. Testers are encouraged to explore multiple possible paths while executing a scenario to ensure all possible path to feature work. Testers should also ensure to gather as many scenarios as possible from different categories.

3) Strategy based ET: 

Known testing techniques such as Boundary value analysis, equivalence technique, and risk-based technique that are combined with exploratory testing. An experienced tester or a tester who is familiar with the application is appointed for this type of testing.