Exploratory Testing: Complementing Automated Tests for Agile Development
As developers, we strive to deliver top-notch software at a remarkable pace, and to achieve that; automated testing plays a crucial role. However, it’s important to remember that while automated testing offers numerous advantages, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, and we shouldn’t overlook the human touch in the testing process. This is where exploratory testing steps in.
Exploratory testing is a fantastic human-driven, flexible testing approach that perfectly complements automated testing. Instead of following predefined scripts, it empowers testers to explore the software freely, try out various scenarios, and actively seek out issues that automated tests might miss. By incorporating both automated testing and exploratory testing into an Agile development environment, we can ensure the delivery of high-quality software at an accelerated pace.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the incredible benefits of exploratory testing and explore how it can seamlessly complement automated testing in an Agile development setup. But before we embark on that journey, let’s first gain a basic understanding of what exploratory testing entails. So, fasten your seatbelts as we explore the fascinating world of exploratory testing!
What is Exploratory Testing?
Exploratory testing is a manual unscripted software testing type. In this, testers analyze the system with no pre-requisite test cases and no prior exposure to the system. They do not follow a strict test plan. Instead, the testers jump straight into testing and make intuitive decisions concerning what to test on the fly.
Before the testing phase, the testers might jot down a few concepts or areas to examine. However, the essence of exploratory testing emphasizes the personal freedom and responsibility of the tester in simultaneous knowledge acquisition and quality checks. In short, exploratory testing is like an exciting, adventurous ride where testers do not know what lies ahead of them. They need to utilize specific strategies to uncover those mysteries.
Exploratory testing is a critical step in an Agile environment. It can authorize software testers to keep pace with the rapid development of Agile software projects. Exploratory testing in an Agile environment authorizes testers to get acquainted with the domain and the application. On each iteration, the understanding of the application is enhanced, which makes testers become more efficient.
Exploratory Testing: Complementing Automated Tests for Agile Development
Exploratory testing plays a crucial role in software testing, especially within Agile projects. While automation testing has gained prominence, we must not underestimate the significance of exploratory testing and manual testing.
For a truly authentic user experience, it’s highly recommended to carry out exploratory tests on real devices. If you don’t have access to an in-house lab, don’t worry! Cloud-based testing services are available that support a wide range of operating systems, browsers, and devices. One excellent option for conducting exploratory testing on a real device cloud is LambdaTest.
LambdaTest serves as a cloud-based digital experience testing platform, enabling both manual and automated testing of web and mobile applications. It grants you the flexibility to access software applications in remote environments, offering over 3000 real browsers, devices, and operating system combinations. With its user-friendly interface, you can effortlessly carry out exploratory testing. Over 10,000+ enterprise customers and 2+ million users across 130+ countries rely on LambdaTest for their testing needs.
Read on to explore the benefits of exploratory testing.
Agile Development Demands Comprehensive Testing
Agile development is an iterative approach to software development that prioritizes collaboration, flexibility, and prompt delivery of working software. Nevertheless, this approach also demands comprehensive testing to ensure that software meets end users’ requirements and is free from defects. Automated tests are an integral component of Agile development. However, they are not enough to catch all potential issues.
Exploratory testing complements automated tests by authorizing testers to use their experience and creativity to identify issues that automated tests may miss. This approach entangles creating test cases on the fly and testing the software in real-time, authorizing testers to pinpoint and report problems swiftly. By incorporating exploratory testing into the Agile development process, teams can increase the effectiveness of their testing endeavors and deliver higher-quality software to their end users.
Automated Testing is Only Part
Automated testing has become an integral part of Agile development, authorizing teams to quickly and efficiently test their software products. Regardless, automated testing is only part of a comprehensive testing strategy. While automated tests are great for checking known scenarios and preventing regressions, they lack the human intuition and creativity necessary to uncover unknown issues and edge cases. This is where exploratory testing comes in.
By integrating automated testing with exploratory testing, teams can ensure that their products are comprehensively tested and of high quality. Exploratory testing implicates the tester actively exploring the product, asking questions, and trying out different scenarios to uncover any potential issues that may have been missed in automated tests. Teams can deliver high-quality products to their end users while also maintaining the agility and speed necessary for Agile development by utilizing a combination of automated and exploratory testing.
Exploratory Testing Fills the Gaps
Exploratory testing is a crucial complement to an Agile development process that relies on automated tests. It is a method of testing that underscores the tester’s creativity, domain knowledge, and intuition. Exploratory testing is not scripted. Instead, it implicates the tester exploring the application to identify issues that the automated tests might not have caught. It fills the voids in the automated testing process by testing the application in manners that are tough or impossible to automate.
Exploratory testing is particularly valuable when the requirements are vague or changing rapidly. In such cases, automated tests may not cover all the potential scenarios. Exploratory testing can help pinpoint issues that have been missed in automated tests. Exploratory testing can also help pinpoint usability issues and other non-functional problems that automated tests might not be able to catch.
Exploratory testing should be an integral part of an Agile development process. It should be conducted by testers with a profound acquaintance of the application and its users. It complements automated tests and helps ensure that the application is tested comprehensively, furnishing more confidence that the application is ready for release.
Exploratory Testing is Human-Driven
Exploratory testing is a human-driven software testing approach that relies on the expertise and intuition of the tester. Unlike automated testing, which follows predefined scripts and test cases, exploratory testing is conducted without a predefined plan or script. The tester designs and runs tests on the fly based on their understanding of the software and the perils and issues that are most probable to arise.
This approach is particularly valuable in Agile development, where software is developed rapidly and iteratively and where testing ought to keep pace with development. By complementing automated tests with exploratory testing, development teams can ensure that their software is comprehensively tested and meets the highest standards of quality and user satisfaction.
Testers Explore the Software
In Agile development, testers play a paramount role in guaranteeing software quality and delivering a high-quality product. Automated tests are often the bar for testing software, but they are not infallible. This is where exploratory testing comes in as a complement to automated tests. Exploratory testing entangles testers exploring the software to find defects, potential issues, and unexpected behaviors.
Through this process, testers can pinpoint issues that automated tests may have missed. It also permits uncovering usability issues that may have yet to be assessed during the development process. By integrating exploratory testing into the testing process, developers can ensure that their software is comprehensively tested and fulfills the end-users prerequisites.
Testers Assess Performance and Usability
Assessing performance and usability is a paramount aspect of exploratory testing. While automated tests can assist in pinpointing functional bugs, they are restricted in their capability to evaluate system performance and usability. Exploratory testing facilitates testers to better comprehend how a user interacts with the system, pinpoint potential bottlenecks, and evaluate the system’s overall usability.
To accomplish this, exploratory testing entangles creating real-world scenarios based on user behavior and exploring how the system performs in those situations. By assessing performance and usability through exploratory testing, testers can furnish valuable feedback to developers, authorizing them to fine-tune the system to meet end-user needs and expectations. This approach can ultimately guide to a more user-friendly and efficient system that fulfills the requirements of both the organization and its end users.
Exploratory Testing Boosts Quality
Exploratory testing is a powerful technique that can elevate the quality of software products, especially in Agile development environments. This approach implicates dynamically testing a software system with the goal of uncovering potential problems that may have been missed using other testing methods. By complementing automated testing with exploratory testing, software developers can identify and address issues that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Exploratory testing authorizes testers to attain a better understanding of the system being tested. This can direct to improved product quality and a better user experience. Software development teams can proficiently deliver higher-quality products to their end users by integrating exploratory testing into their testing strategy.
Conclusion
Exploratory testing is a vital component of Agile development that complements automated testing. While automated testing provides rapid feedback and regression testing, exploratory testing helps to uncover complex issues that automated tests may not detect. Both methods complement each other and contribute to delivering high-quality software products. Agile teams must embrace exploratory testing and incorporate it into their development process. This will ensure the developers that their outcome fulfills the highest standards of quality and end-user satisfaction.