A Survey of Exploratory Testing

Created and summarized by Brian Marick.

Different people mean different things by "exploratory testing". But it seems to have these elements:

• An interweaving of test design and test execution. This is in contrast to a process in which the tests are all designed first, then run later.
• A notion that the tester is learning about the product by testing it.
• An emphasis on creativity and spontaneity.
• (Sometimes) An expectation that exploratory testing will change the allocation of effort. Testing thus precedes some parts of test planning.

The following links cover different aspects of exploratory testing.

Why explore?

• Harry Robinson describes exploratory testers as the leading edge of the testing effort, building models (maps) used by later testers.

• Brian Marick uses an example of unexpected interactions to justify exploratory testing.

How to explore?

• James Bach defines exploratory testing as an interactive process of concurrent product exploration, test design, and test execution. The heart of exploratory testing can be stated simply: "The outcome of this test influences the design of the next test." Exploratory testing is almost always based on heuristic (non-rigorous) test design, just as scientific exploration is a heuristic process.
  
  James was commissioned by Microsoft to produce a formal procedure for exploratory testing for use in the Windows 2000 Application Certification program. The General Functionality and Stability Test Procedure is, as far as we know, the first published formal procedure for exploratory testing. It's a product of Bach's belief that exploratory testing is a teachable skill, not merely a mystical art. It is a PDF file and is used by permission of James Bach.
  
• Chris Agruss and Bob Johnson describe an ad hoc test as one you intend to run only once, unless it discovers a defect. In their paper, they have a justification, examples, and techniques. It is a PDF file and is used by permission.

• Bret Pettichord has a workshop trip report. It includes summaries of techniques and tips for using exploratory testing.

Related Testing Craft Pages

• There will at some point be case studies in the index of techniques.

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Summarized Discussion

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