20 Exploratory Testing Interview Questions and Answers

Exploratory testing is a type of testing that is conducted without pre-determined test cases. This approach allows testers to use their creativity and expertise to find bugs and errors in software. When interviewing for a position that requires exploratory testing, it is important to be prepared to answer questions about your experience and approach to this type of testing. In this article, we will review some of the most common questions asked in an exploratory testing interview and how you can best answer them.

Exploratory Testing Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Exploratory Testing interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is exploratory testing?

Exploratory testing is a type of testing where the tester is free to explore the software without following any specific test cases. This allows for more creativity and flexibility in testing, and can help to uncover more bugs and issues.

2. Can you explain the main characteristics of exploratory testing?

Exploratory testing is a type of testing that is conducted without any prior planning or preparation. This means that testers are free to explore the software as they see fit, and to test whatever they think is necessary. This makes exploratory testing very flexible, but it also means that it can be difficult to know what has been tested and what has not.

3. How does exploratory testing differ from scripted or manual testing?

Exploratory testing is a more flexible and unstructured approach to testing than scripted or manual testing. With exploratory testing, testers are free to try different test scenarios and test cases as they come up with them, rather than following a set script or plan. This makes exploratory testing more adaptable to new situations and can help uncover more creative and unexpected bugs.

4. When should exploratory testing be used?

Exploratory testing should be used when you want to gain a better understanding of how a system works, or when you want to find as many bugs as possible in a short amount of time. It can also be used when you want to test a new feature or functionality that has not been thoroughly documented yet.

5. Who can conduct exploratory testing?

Any tester can conduct exploratory testing, regardless of experience level. This type of testing does not require any specific skillset, and can be conducted by anyone who is familiar with the application under test.

6. Is it possible to perform exploratory testing in an Agile environment? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to do exploratory testing in an Agile environment. One way to do this is to have a dedicated exploratory testing time set aside each sprint where testers are free to explore the application and test whatever they feel is necessary. Another way is to integrate exploratory testing into the regular testing process by having testers perform some exploratory testing with each user story they work on.

7. Is it necessary for a tester to have technical skills in order to perform exploratory testing?

No, it is not necessary for a tester to have technical skills in order to perform exploratory testing. The goal of exploratory testing is to allow the tester to approach the software with fresh eyes, and to explore the functionality without preconceptions. Having technical skills may help the tester to understand the code or the system better, but it is not necessary for the testing itself.

8. What are some common problems that testers might face when performing exploratory testing?

Some common problems that testers might face when performing exploratory testing include:

– Not knowing where to start
– Not having a clear goal or objectives
– Not having enough time
– Not knowing what to test
– Not knowing how to report findings

9. What do you think is the most important skill required by a tester to perform exploratory testing well?

I think the most important skill required for exploratory testing is the ability to think creatively. When you are exploring a system, you need to be able to come up with new and innovative ways to test it. This means thinking outside the box and being able to come up with new test ideas on the fly.

10. What are some best practices that every tester should follow while conducting exploratory testing?

While there are many different ways to approach exploratory testing, some best practices include:

– Having a clear understanding of the application under test before starting to explore
– Creating test cases as you explore, so that you can easily track your progress and coverage
– Focusing on specific areas or functionality of the application during each testing session
– Taking breaks during testing to reflect on what has been done and what still needs to be explored
– Keeping detailed notes and screenshots of your findings
– Reporting any bugs or issues that are discovered immediately

11. What’s the difference between verification and validation?

Verification is the process of determining whether or not a system meets its requirements. This can be done through things like static analysis and code review. Validation is the process of determining whether or not a system actually works as intended. This is done through things like functional testing and usability testing.

12. Can you give me some examples of real-world situations where exploratory testing would be useful?

Exploratory testing can be useful in any situation where you are trying to learn more about a system or piece of software. For example, if you are trying to figure out how a new piece of software works, you might use exploratory testing to try out different features and see how they work. If you are trying to troubleshoot a problem with existing software, exploratory testing can help you narrow down the cause of the problem by trying out different things and seeing what happens.

13. What are some challenges faced by testers when using automated tools to perform exploratory testing?

One challenge is that automated tools can only do so much. They can help with things like identifying potential areas of the application to explore, but they can’t actually do the testing for you. This means that testers still need to have a good understanding of the application in order to effectively use the tools. Additionally, automated tools can be expensive, and may require a significant investment of time and resources to set up and maintain.

14. What is heuristics based testing?

Heuristics based testing is a type of exploratory testing that relies on testers using their own experience and expertise to guide the testing process. This can be contrasted with scripted testing, where testers follow a predetermined set of instructions. Heuristics based testing is often seen as more flexible and efficient, as it allows testers to adapt their approach on the fly based on what they are seeing in the software.

15. What are the different types of exploratory testing techniques?

There are four main types of exploratory testing techniques:

1. Specification-based techniques: These techniques involve testing based on the requirements or specification of the software.

2. Experience-based techniques: These techniques make use of the tester’s past experience with similar software to guide the testing process.

3. Structure-based techniques: These techniques focus on the structure of the software code in order to identify potential areas for testing.

4. Risk-based techniques: These techniques focus on identifying and testing for areas of the software that are most likely to contain errors or defects.

16. What is the boundary value analysis technique? Why is it important?

The boundary value analysis technique is a testing technique that involves testing the input values that are at the edge of the acceptable range. This is important because these values are more likely to cause errors, and so testing them can help to uncover any potential problems.

17. What is the equivalence partitioning technique? What are its benefits?

Equivalence partitioning is a technique used to reduce the number of test cases that need to be run by grouping together inputs that are expected to produce the same output. This technique can be used to reduce the amount of time and resources needed to test a system.

18. What is pairwise testing? Under what circumstances would this type of testing technique be useful?

Pairwise testing is a type of testing in which every possible combination of inputs is tested. This can be useful when there are a large number of input combinations to test and not enough time to test them all individually.

19. What is error guessing?

Error guessing is a technique used in exploratory testing in which the tester tries to anticipate errors that might occur in the software under test. This can be done by looking at the code, by looking at similar software, or by simply using intuition. Error guessing can be a very effective technique, but it can also be very time-consuming.

20. When would use cases be more appropriate than exploring test cases?

When you are trying to test the functionality of a specific feature or component, use cases are more appropriate. This is because use cases are designed to test specific functionality, while exploratory testing is more open-ended.