How to approach an Exploratory Test

Exploratory testing is the most unbound testing type, which gives the testers the freedom to autonomously explore the app while hunting for bugs which might never be discovered through script-based verification.  

In comparison with test case executions that are linear, strict and mostly kept within formal frames, the exploratory test runs strongly depend on the testers’ professional knowledge, experience, and intuition. Basically, its trump is the human factor, which cannot be perfectly transcribed by an AI. Like, never.

❓ How would you use this app? How would the product be generally used by people? Which would be the deliberate or accidental actions that would be triggered by an end-user? 

These are key questions when it comes to the discussion of WHY to perform an exploratory test and why it is so important for our clients that their app is tested in this way as well. And this is the most important reason why the exploratory tests have such high demand among the crowdsourcing companies.

There are 3 major key aspects that pros talk about in regards to exploratory tests, as follows:

• 🎓 Learning - to be able to provide exceptional test results, the testers have to understand the app and the test requirements. Being aware of the desired outcome of the test also helps the testers to remain on the right track during the test cycles, always aiming to fulfill the greater goal. This implies a certain level of knowledge about the app details/context based on a very thorough inspection of the Tester Spec document.
• 💡 Designing - is usually less formal and doesn’t follow a preset path or prescribed manner. It also affords testers the option to personally define what techniques to use and under what circumstances. 
• 🏁 Executing - testers are given the freedom to complete the test whenever and however they would like within a certain time frame (usually within 7-24 hours). They only have to be aware of the testing goal and the eventual out of scope app features.