Navigating the Uncharted: Strategies to Enhance Test Coverage with Exploratory Testing
Acsah Mathew (Lead Exploratory Tester at Moolya)
July 10, 2023
A group of software professionals equipped with their testing gear, braving the untamed wilderness of an application. Just like lost explorers in a jungle, they rely on their instincts, wits, and a dash of luck to navigate through the intricate paths of functionality, behavior, and vulnerabilities.
But hold your laughter—contrary to popular belief, Exploratory Testing is NOT a wild, random adventure It's a clever approach that lets these brave testers uncover defects that might have gone unnoticed in scripted test cases.
So what exactly is Exploratory Testing?
Exploratory testing is an approach to testing where testers actively explore an application, simultaneously learning about its functionality, behavior, and potential vulnerabilities. Unlike scripted testing, exploratory testing relies on the tester's curiosity, intuition, experience, and analytical skills to identify defects that may have been overlooked in formal test cases.
Now, let's look at a few strategies which one can use to enhance the test coverage with Exploratory Testing:
Define Clear Objectives: Before starting exploratory testing, it is important to define specific objectives and areas of focus. This ensures that the testing effort remains purposeful and aligned with the project goals. For example, you may want to target specific features, user interactions, or edge cases that are critical to the application's functionality.
Utilize Heuristics: Testers should leverage heuristics to generate test ideas. These heuristics act as guidelines to identify potential areas of risk and to design test ideas that can uncover critical defects. Identify a set of relevant heuristics that align with the testing objectives and context. Some examples of heuristics models in the form of Mnemonics are
Implement Session-Based Time Management Testing: To enhance the effectiveness of exploratory testing, consider implementing session-based time management testing. This approach involves setting time-boxed testing sessions, typically ranging from 30 minutes to a few hours, during which testers explore the application. By allocating dedicated time slots, testers can maintain focus, manage their time effectively, and ensure that testing efforts are well-structured and targeted.
Conduct Test Debrief Sessions: After each exploratory testing session, conduct test debriefs sessions to share findings, observations, and potential defects with the development team and other stakeholders. These debrief sessions serve as an opportunity to discuss the insights gained during testing, address any concerns or questions, and collectively decide on the next steps. Test debrief sessions promote collaboration, encourage knowledge sharing, and facilitate better decision-making for subsequent testing efforts.
Use Mind Maps for Test Coverage: Mind maps are powerful visual tools that can assist testers in organizing their thoughts, exploring different paths, and ensuring comprehensive test coverage. Create a mind map that represents the application's features, functionalities, and potential test scenarios. As you perform exploratory testing, update the mind map to reflect the areas covered, uncovered, and areas that require further exploration. Mind maps provide a visual representation of test coverage, helping testers identify any gaps or areas that need additional attention.
Conduct Pair Test Sessions: Pair testing involves two testers working together to perform exploratory testing. This collaborative approach brings different perspectives, knowledge, and skills to the testing process. Testers can bounce ideas off each other, discuss potential risks, and uncover defects more effectively. Pair testing enhances the quality of the testing effort and encourages shared learning between testers.
Organise Mob Testing: Mob testing takes collaboration a step further by involving a group of testers working together on exploratory testing. The group collectively discusses and decides on the testing approach, shares responsibilities, and rotates roles periodically. Mob testing promotes active engagement, and knowledge sharing, and accelerates the identification of defects.
Exploratory testing emerges as a strategic approach that goes beyond scripted test cases. It empowers software professionals to actively explore applications, leveraging their curiosity, intuition, and analytical skills to uncover defects that may have been missed. The explorers of the digital jungle continue to pave the way for a future where applications are robust, reliable, and worthy of users' trust!
