The Agile Context Exploratory Testing

Exploratory testing is a rigorous investigative practice. It is test design and test execution at the same time.  Unlike scripted test cases, they are not pre-defined and are not carried out as per any plan. It may be confused with ad-hoc testing as well, which is an improvised form of bug detection.

Exploratory testing is a sophisticated and thoughtful approach to ad-hoc testing. It helps softwaretesters keep up with the rapid development speed of the Agile methodology. It is a core testing practice in Agile. Continuous Integration in Agile, execute typically automated scripted regression tests. However, all such automation is not enough to ensure that the system is built and functions perfectly. Hence, manual tests are still required. These are not those repeatable scripted tests.This manual testing refers to an approach that is adaptable and gives out a lot of information quickly. This refers to exploratory testing.

Here, instead of documenting stepwise instructions, simple questions are chartered which needs to be answered through testing. Then, using these charters, testing moves through the software, poking it to reveal unintended sequences and risks of design decisions which were not considered earlier. 

A test charter for exploratory testing may include the following:

-          The intended user of the program.

-          The objective of the user, i.e., the test conditions.

-          The test environment.

-          The relative importance of the charter with respect to the user level.

-          Data gathered during the test.

-          Test activities

-          Input and output evaluation notes

-          Alternative evaluations  for  results of the test activities.

Exploratory test results should include the following :

-          Test Coverage

-          Notes of evaluation, observations, stability and features of the system.

-          The risk matrix and its coverage.

-          Issues and anomalies related to the efficiency of the test approach,  test environment, test data, functional misinterpretation and the test script.

-          Actual behavior of the system.

Further, exploratory testing uses the results from the last test  to form the next. If some vulnerability or risk is noticed, the testing approach is adapted accordingly. As this testing type does not follow a test script, it focuses on what actually important at that time.

Exploratory testing is more of a practice characterized by the following aspects:

-          Emphasizes the  skill, creativity and autonomy of the tester.

-          It recommends the performing of test activities throughout the development life cycle rather than in a fixed sequence or phase.

-          Emphasizes on diverse test approaching rather than following one single scripted technique.

Exploratory Testing is suitable in situations when very little is known about the product or the involved test scripts. It is called for at the time when the next test to be performed is not obvious or when it is required to go beyond the obvious.

Conclusion

Exploratory testing is required to make the testing relevant in order to manage the constant changes in an Agile Project. This requires understanding of the risks and the areas to focus the test coverage.