Exploratory Testing Techniques for WEB Applications

Exploratory Testing is a dynamic and flexible approach to testing where testers actively explore the application, learn about its functionality, and design test cases on-the-fly.

Exploratory Testing is an approach to software testing that is concisely defined as simultaneous learning, test design, and test execution. This method emphasizes the personal freedom and responsibility of the individual tester to continually optimize the quality of his or 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. It relies on the tester’s skill, intuition, and creativity for the execution of tests that are not pre-defined, allowing for the discovery of defects in unexpected areas or those not covered by structured testing methodologies.

Remember that exploratory testing is a creative and adaptive process, and the effectiveness of these techniques depends on the tester’s skills, domain knowledge, and ability to think critically about the application under test.

• Ad Hoc Testing:

Testers explore the web application without predefined test cases, relying on their intuition, experience, and knowledge of the application. This helps uncover unexpected issues and areas not covered by scripted tests.

• Scenario-Based Testing:

Design and execute test scenarios based on user personas and realistic usage scenarios. This technique helps simulate how real users might interact with the web application, uncovering usability and functional issues.

• Error Guessing:

Testers use their experience and intuition to guess potential errors or weak points in the application. This can be effective for identifying issues that may not be covered by formal test cases.

• User Journey Testing:

Mimic different user journeys through the application, from login to completing specific tasks. This helps identify issues related to navigation, workflow, and the overall user experience.

• Data–Driven Testing:

Testers manipulate data inputs to observe how the application responds. This technique is particularly useful for identifying security vulnerabilities, boundary issues, and unexpected behaviors based on different data inputs.

• Usability Testing:

Focus on the usability aspects of the web application, such as the clarity of user interfaces, intuitiveness of navigation, and overall user experience. This can be done by testers who are not intimately familiar with the application to simulate real user experiences.

• Session-Based Testing:

Organize testing activities into time-boxed sessions with specific goals. Testers explore different aspects of the application in each session, allowing for focused and structured exploratory testing.

• Risk-Based Testing:

Identify and prioritize testing efforts based on the perceived risks associated with different features or areas of the web application. This ensures that exploratory testing efforts are focused on critical aspects.

• Accessibility Testing:

Pay attention to the accessibility of the web application, ensuring that it can be used by individuals with disabilities. Explore the application using assistive technologies and identify any accessibility-related issues.

• Compatibility Testing:

Test the web application across different browsers, devices, and operating systems. This helps uncover issues related to cross-browser compatibility, responsive design, and platform-specific behaviors.

• Time-Boxed Testing:

Set a specific time limit for exploratory testing sessions to encourage focused and efficient testing. This can help balance the need for thorough testing with time constraints.

• Collaborative Testing:

Encourage collaboration between testers, developers, and other stakeholders during exploratory testing sessions. This can bring different perspectives to the testing process and uncover issues more effectively.

• Visual Testing:

Pay attention to the visual aspects of the web application. Look for inconsistencies in layout, color, and design across different pages. Visual testing tools can help automate the comparison of expected and actual visual elements.

• Cookie Testing:

Explore how the application handles different scenarios related to cookies. This includes testing the behavior when cookies are disabled, when they expire, or when they are manipulated.

• Performance Exploration:

During exploratory testing, pay attention to the performance aspects of the web application. This includes page load times, response times for various actions, and how the application handles concurrent user interactions.

• Localization and Internationalization Testing:

Explore how the web application performs in different language settings and locales. Check for text truncation, alignment issues, and other localization-related issues.

• State Handling Testing:

Test the web application’s behavior when it encounters different states, such as timeouts, network disruptions, or unexpected errors. Explore how the application recovers from or handles these situations gracefully.

• Captcha and Security Testing:

Verify the effectiveness of any security measures, such as captchas, implemented in the web application. Attempt to bypass security mechanisms and explore how the application responds to potential security threats.

• Browser Developer Tools Exploration:

Utilize browser developer tools to inspect network requests, examine console logs, and analyze the application’s performance. This can provide insights into potential issues that may not be apparent through regular user interactions.

• Dynamic Content Testing:

Test how the web application handles dynamically changing content, such as real-time updates, notifications, or content loaded through AJAX calls. Explore scenarios where dynamic content might impact the overall user experience.

• API Testing through the UI:

Explore the web application’s APIs indirectly through the user interface. This can help identify issues related to data exchange between the front end and back end.

• Concurrency Testing:

Simulate scenarios where multiple users interact with the application simultaneously. This can help uncover issues related to data consistency, transaction handling, and concurrent access.

• Mobile Responsiveness Testing:

If the web application is designed to be responsive, explore how it behaves on various mobile devices with different screen sizes and resolutions. Pay attention to touch interactions and mobile-specific features.

• Session Management Testing:

Explore how the web application handles user sessions, including login/logout scenarios, session timeouts, and the behavior when users access the application from multiple devices.

• Offline Testing:

Test the web application’s behavior when it is accessed offline. Check if essential features are still usable, and explore how the application syncs data when the connection is restored.