Practice : Exploratory Testing

Purpose and Strategic Importance

Exploratory Testing is a hands-on, investigative approach where testers actively explore the application to uncover bugs, usability issues, and unexpected behaviour. Unlike scripted testing, it relies on creativity, domain knowledge, and real-time decision-making.

This practice uncovers edge cases that automation misses and provides deep insights into product quality and user experience. It’s especially valuable during early development, regression cycles, and high-risk feature changes.

Description of the Practice

  • Exploratory testers design and execute tests simultaneously, adapting based on findings.
  • Sessions are structured around charters or missions, but not rigid scripts.
  • Testers document observations, questions, and defects in real time.
  • Focus is on behaviour, usability, edge cases, and unexpected interactions.
  • Often used alongside automated tests to fill gaps in coverage and perception.

How to Practise It (Playbook)

1. Getting Started

  • Define a test charter - a goal for the session (e.g. “Explore checkout errors with invalid cards”).
  • Use personas and real-world scenarios to guide exploration.
  • Record findings with notes, screenshots, or session capture tools.
  • Prioritise areas where automation has blind spots or recent changes occurred.

2. Scaling and Maturing

  • Embed exploratory testing into sprint reviews, story completion, or release hardening.
  • Share session outcomes in team ceremonies to surface hidden risks.
  • Pair with developers or designers to build shared understanding.
  • Rotate testers across products to bring fresh perspectives.
  • Track exploratory coverage using lightweight documentation or test tours.

3. Team Behaviours to Encourage

  • Value critical thinking and curiosity over scripted pass/fail metrics.
  • Celebrate bugs found during exploratory testing as prevention wins.
  • Empower testers to follow their instincts and deviate from expected paths.
  • Encourage teams to treat exploratory sessions as collaborative and cross-functional.

4. Watch Out For…

  • Treating exploratory testing as “unscripted QA” without structure or intent.
  • Lack of documentation that makes reproducing issues difficult.
  • Conflating exploratory testing with unplanned or ad hoc testing.
  • Neglecting to act on or share insights from testing sessions.

5. Signals of Success

  • Exploratory testing uncovers issues missed by automation.
  • Bugs are caught earlier and linked to deeper root causes.
  • Product teams gain richer insight into how systems behave in reality.
  • Exploratory findings shape future testing, development, and design.
  • Testers feel empowered, engaged, and trusted for their domain expertise.