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EXPERIENCE BASED TESTING

ERROR GUESSING AND EXPLORATORY TESTING

The experience based testing techniques involve the knowledge and experience of the testers and other stakeholders. They derive the test conditions by applying their knowledge in application and technologies. This testing technique is usually used when there is insufficient information and time in the project.

The testing is done based on the skill and experience of the tester. It is also called as Ad-hoc testing because proper specifications are not available to test the applications. Here the tester depends on the past experiences with same technologies. The tester as per his experience focuses on the important areas of the software like the areas mostly used by the customer or the areas most likely to be failed. Experience based techniques goes together with specification based and structure or design based techniques. This technique is used for low risk system. This kind of testing is done even when there is no specifications or have inadequate specification list. Different types of experience based techniques are:

  • Error guessing techniques
  • Exploratory Techniques

All the people in the team can involve in experience based testing different people will contribute their experiences in the field. For example an end-user will bring business and process knowledge and the tester uses all the testing skills

Error Guessing:

Error guessing type of software testing includes the tester’s skills and experience. It is done when the defect is not captured by formal methods. To guess the error prone part in the program the analyst can use the past experience to identify the conditions. This technique can be used in any of the case like

  • Divide by zero
  • Living blank spaces in the text fields
  • Pressing any of the ok buttons without entering values.

Error guessing testing needs skilled and experience tester who guesses the problematic areas in the software. For example the Initialisation of data that is repetition of data or wrong kind of data like negative numbers etc. Error guessing is one of the important software testing techniques which does not guarantee on the quality of the software it does not provide the full coverage of the application. This technique should be combined with other technique to give better results.

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Exploratory testing:

Exploratory testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques. There no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing. The test charters with test objectives can be used as reference. The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers intuition.

Check your understanding:

1. What is difference between error guessing and exploratory testing.

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  1. 1. Ans.: Difference between errors guessing & exploratory testing:
    Error guessing is one of the important software testing techniques which doesn’t guarantee on the quality of the software it doesn’t provide the full coverage of the application. Error guessing testing needs skilled and experience tester who guesses the problematic areas in the software. This technique can be used in any of the case like divide by zero, living blank space in the text fields, pressing any of the ok buttons without entering values BUT Exploratory testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques. There no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing. The test charters with test objectives can be used as reference. The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers intuition.

  2. The difference between error guessing and exploratory testing:
    The error guessing software testing is done when defects are not captured by normal method. Skilled and experienced testers are needed to guess the problematic areas in the software. This is one of the important software technique that do not provide the full coverage of the application, it must be combined with other technique for a better result.
    Whereas, the exploratory testing is used when there are insufficient time and inadequate specifications testing. There is no defined steps or procedure. The test charters can be used as reference. The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers intuition.

  3. Exploratory testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques ,while Error guessing type of software testing includes the tester’s skills and experience. It is done when the defect is not captured by formal methods.

  4. The difference between error guessing and exploratory testing:
    *Error guessing type of software testing includes the tester’s skills and experience.
    *To guess the error prone part in the program the analyst can use the past experience to identify the conditions.
    *Error guessing testing needs skilled and experience tester who guesses the problematic areas in the software.
    *Exploratory testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques.
    *There no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing. The test charters with test objectives can be used as reference.
    *The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers intuition.

  5. Difference between Error guessing and Exploratory testing:
    Error guessing:
    – Done when the defect is not captured by the formal methods.
    – To guess the error, analysts can use the past experience to identify the conditions.
    – Needs skillled and experience tester who guesses the problematic areas of the software.
    – Does not provide guarantee on the quality o the software and full coverage of the application.

    Exploratory testing:
    – Used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing.
    – Used in complement with the other formal testing techniques.
    – No well defined steps or procedures is followed.
    – Defects are identified based on testers intuition.

  6. Error guessing is a type of test where test cases are used to find bugs based on the know how and knowledge of the testers. It mostly rely on the experience and intuition of the tester. Typical errors include divide by zero, null pointers and invalid parameters.
    Exploratory testing is simultaneous exploration. It is not using a pre-designed test cases but rather applying existing knowledge to find bugs.

  7. Error guessing is testing of software using testers skills and experience when there is insufficient time and information. Can be done by anyone in team. Uses past experiences to find out problematic areas like divided by zero, spaces in text box etc.
    Exploratory testing is done to unsderstand software to find defects when limited time and information. No need of test design and formal documentation. Only depends on testers knowledge and skills.

  8. Error guessing testing is done by skilled and experienced software testers.it doe snot guarantee the quality of the software and will not provide the full coverage of application.
    Exploratory testing:this type of testing is used when there is no sufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing.No well defined steps or procedures followed for this kind of testing.

  9. Difference between error guessing and exploratory testing:
    Error guessing testing: Needs skilled and experience tester who guesses the problematic areas in the software by using past experience to identify the conditions.
    Exploratory testing: The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers intuition. The test charters with test objectives can be used as reference.

  10. Error guessing techniques: To guess the error prone part in the program the analyst can use the past experience to identify the conditions. This is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing.
    Exploratory testing: this is all about discovery, investigation and learning the software. in this testing no well-defined steps or procedures is followed instead testing is carried out based on the knowledge and experience of the tester. This is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing.

  11. Both the tests are done when there is time constraint. In error based testing the experienced testers find the general problem spots in software application and just test those functions. Where as in Exploratory testing they just follow their intuition during testing.

  12. • Error guessing is done by the tester when the defect is not captured by formal methods and it depends on the experience and skills of the software tester.
    • Exploratory testing is done by the tester to identify the defects of the software and it is based on software tester’s intuitions.

  13. Error guessing is done by experienced and skilled testers, the defects are not captured by the formal methods. This is an unstructured approach of a software testing.
    Exploratory testing is done when there is not time and inadequate specifications. This is done also by the tester to identify the defects of the software based on the tester intuition.

  14. Short deadlines and insufficient requirements specification prompt for the use of Exploratory testing method to randomly and intuitively spot defects. Whereas error guessing focuses on capturing errors that could have been missed by other testing techniques. Unlike Exploratory testing, error guessing required a high-level experience Tester to use previous knowledge in the field to capture errors. Exploratory testing however, is a complementary testing to identify defects in a software.

  15. 1. What is difference between error guessing and exploratory testing.
    Error guessing type of software testing includes the tester’s skills and experience. It is done when the defect is not captured by formal methods.like the Initialisation of data that is repetition of data or wrong kind of data like negative numbers etc. This technique should be combined with other technique to give better results.
    Exploratory testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques.The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers intuition.

  16. What is difference between error guessing and exploratory testing.
    Error Guessing is the ability to find errors or defects in the AUT by what appears to be intution. Error guessing testing needs skilled and experience tester who guesses the problematic areas in the software. To guess the error prone part in the program the analyst can use the past experience to identify the conditions.
    Exploratary Testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. There no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing. The test charters with test objectives can be used as reference. The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers intuition.

  17. The difference between Error Guessing and Exploratory Testing are:
    Error Guessing:It is done when the defects is not captured by formal method.Error guessing needs the skilled and experience tester.
    Exploratory Testing:This testing is not follow in a very organize form.It depends on skill of the QA.It try to explore a software to understand and identify the defects.

  18. Error guessing uses the tester’s experience in order to predict the place and type of defect occurring in the system or in the system component. This technique is used for defining the system quality and reliability, by means of attempts to cause certain failure.

    Exploratory testing technique is an informal method for designing test and test scenarios and is used when the product does not have requirements and documentation or limited time for testing.

  19. The difference between Error guessing techniques and exploratory testing techniques are as follows:
    Error Guessing Techniques:The tester has to use past experience to find conditions.It includes experience and skill of the tester.
    Exploratory Testing:No specific steps are followed in exploratory testing techniques when there is limited time and inadequate specification for testing it is used.

  20. Experience based testing or Ad-hoc testing uses knowledge and experience of testers and other stakeholders to design test condition. This type of testing is used when less information like specification and time is available in project. Two types of experience based testing are:
    1.Error guessing techniques: It uses tester’s skills and experience to identify defect that are not possible to detect by formal methods. This technique requires experienced and skilled tester who can guess problematic areas in software but doesn’t guarantee on software quality and full coverage of application.
    2.Exploratory Techniques: It is used when insufficient time and inadequate specifications are available for testing. It uses tester’s intuition along with formal testing techniques but doesn’t follow well defined procedure to identify defects.

  21. 1. What is difference between error guessing and exploratory testing.
    Error guessing
    The tester guesses the errors which were developed during the development phase of the software. It basically depends on the skill and experience of the tester. This type of testing does not guarantee the quality of the software. It should be used with the other types software testing.
    Exploratory Testing
    The tester need not prepare any documents or need not submit any documents to anyone. The tester just tries to understand or explore the software by using it.

  22. Error guessing : For this we need skilled and experienced tester who guesses the problematic areas in the software by their previous experience .It does not guarantee the quality of the software
    Exploratory testing : This testing is done when there is insufficient of time and specification for testing . Here test design and test execution all done at the same time

  23. Error guessing is type of software testing includes the tester’s skills and experience.
    It is done when the defect is not captured by formal methods.
    Exploratory testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing.
    It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques.

  24. Error Guessing Testing: Experience tester does error guessing testing. There is no specific way of doing this testing only previous skills matters.
    Exploratory Testing: Is an approach to software testing that is concisely described as simultaneous learning, test design and test execution

  25. Difference in Error guessing and exploratory Testing
    Error guessing – This testing technique is usually used when there is insufficient information and time in the project.The testing is done based on the skill and experience of the tester. It is done when the defect is not captured by formal methods. To guess the error prone part in the program the analyst can use the past experience to identify the conditions. It is also called as Ad-hoc testing because proper specifications are not available to test the applications. The focus is on the important areas of the software like the areas mostly used by the customer or the areas most likely to be failed.
    Exploratory testing – is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques. There are no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing. The test charters with test objectives can be used as reference. The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers intuition

  26. Error Guessing is not in itself a testing technique but rather a skill that can be applied to all of the other testing techniques to produce more effective tests (tests that find defects).
    Error Guessing is the ability to find errors or defects in the AUT by what appears to be intuition. In fact, testers who are effective at error guessing actually use a range of techniques, including:
    1. Knowledge about the AUT, such as the design method or implementation technology.
    2. Knowledge of the results of any earlier testing phases (particularly important in Regression Testing).
    3. Experience of testing similar or related systems (and knowing where defects have arisen previously in those systems).
    4. Knowledge of typical implementation errors (such as division by zero errors)
    Exploratory testing is extremely useful when we are faced with software that is untested, unknown, or unstable. But after the product is more stable and settled, we would like to have a way to ease into a less labor-intensive, hopefully automated, mode of testing. Exploratory testing ventures into the product while it is still in great flux and not yet ready for automation. According to IEEE, Exploratory testing is the most widely practiced testing technique. Tests are derived relying on tester skill and intuition, and on the tester’s experience with similar programs. More systematic approaches are advised. Exploratory testing might be useful (but only if the tester is really an expert) to identify special tests not easily captured by formalized methods.

  27. EXPERIENCE BASED TESTING

    Error guessing: testing involves experience and skills of the tester. They use past experience to help with the test.
    Exploratory testing: the word exploratory is pretty much self defined. This testing is used when there insufficient time and inadequate specification.

  28. Error guessing type of software testing is done when the defect is not captured by formal methods. To guess the error prone part in the program the analyst can use the past experience to identify the conditions.

    Exploratory testing is done when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques. There no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing. The test charters with test objectives can be used as reference. The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers intuition.

  29. Error guessing type of software testing includes the tester’s skills and experience. It is done when the defect is not captured by formal methods. To guess the error prone part in the program the analyst can use the past experience to identify the conditions. This technique can be used in any of the case like
    Divide by zero
    Living blank spaces in the text fields
    Pressing any of the ok buttons without entering values.
    Exploratory testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques. There no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing

  30. Difference between error guessing and exploratory testing.
    Error guessing type of software testing includes the tester’s skills and experience. It is done when the defect is not captured by formal methods. To guess the error prone part in the program the analyst can use the past experience to identify the conditions.
    Exploratory testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques. There no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing.

  31. Error guessing is guessing where the system may fail, usually this could be by entering wrong data type like entering alphabet in numerical field, special characters etc,

    Exploratory testing is testing the system randomly without any well defined test cases, This is done when there is inadequate time or budget

  32. What is difference between error guessing and exploratory testing.

    The error guessing software testing relates to finding out errors based on one’s experience. It requires skill and experience. It is called ADHOC testing also because the specifications are not always available.
    Exploratory testing comes into use when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is usually put into use in complement with other formal testing techniques. There are no clear cut well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing. . The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers intuition.

  33. Error guessing – this type of testing involves the tester’s skills and experience and done when the defect is not captured by formal methods. To guess the error prone part in the program the analyst can use the past experience to identify the conditions.
    Exploratory testing- is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is used in addition to other formal testing techniques. There no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing. The test charters with test objectives can be used as reference.

  34. Error guessing- This type of software testing includes the tester’s skills and experience. It is done when the defect is not captured by formal methods. To guess the error prone part in the program the analyst can use the past experience to identify the conditions. It needs skilled and experience tester who guesses the problematic areas in the software.

    Exploratory testing- It is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. There is no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing. The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers intuition.

  35. What is difference between error guessing and exploratory testing?
    Error guessing is an experience based testing technique where the experience of a tester is used to find the components of software where defects might be present. It is mostly done by experienced testers who can use their past experience to find defects in software.It is done when the defect is not captured by formal methods.Error guessing has no rules for testing, it only uses the testers previous skills.
    Exploratory testing is a software testing technique that does not use any specific test design, plan or approach.
    It is a software testing technique in which the testers explore and identify different means of evaluating and improving the quality of the software. Exploratory testing is most useful when there are few or inadequate specifications or significant time
    pressure on testing. Exploratory testing is also useful to complement other more formal testing
    techniques.

  36. Different types of experience-based techniques are:
    Error guessing testing needs skilled and experience tester who guesses the problematic areas in the software. There is no guarantee on the quality of the software, it does not provide the full coverage of the application.
    Exploratory testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. There no well-defined steps or procedure in this testing. software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the tester’s intuition.

  37. What is difference between error guessing and exploratory testing.
    Error guessing testing is done by skilled and experienced software testers.it doe snot guarantee the quality of the software and will not provide the full coverage of application.
    Exploratory testing:this type of testing is used when there is no sufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing.No well defined steps or procedures followed for this kind of testing.

  38. Error guessing and exploratory testing are functional test techniques based on the test engineer’s knowledge, experience, and intuition. The skill in error guessing and exploratory testing is to derive a comprehensive set of tests without missing areas, and without generating redundant tests.
    – Error guessing is usually most productive in falsification type testing, but when coupled with exploratory testing these techniques can be used to design a set of tests that will uncover errors and successfully validate the product works as expected.
    -Exploratory testing is extremely useful when we are faced with software that is untested, unknown, or unstable.

  39. The difference between error guessing and exploratory testing…

    Error guessing technique uses the tester’s skills and experience to identify the error prone part of the program, and find defects when it is not captured by formal methods.

    Exploratory testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques. There no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing. The test charters with test objectives can be used as reference. The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers intuition.

  40. The difference between error guessing and exploratory testing…
    Error guessing testing needs skilled and experience tester who guesses the problematic areas in the software. To guess the error prone part in the program and analyst can use the past experience to identify the condition. eg. initialisation of data that is repetition of data or wrong kind of data like numbers etc. This technique should be combined with other technique to give better results.
    Exploratory testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specification for testing. There is no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing . The test charters with test objectives can be used as reference. The software is explored to identify the defects in it based on the testers institution.

  41. The difference between error guessing and exploratory testing:
    Error guessing testing needs skilled and experience tester who guesses the problematic areas in the software.It is done when defect is not captured by formal methods.This technique should be combined with other technique to give better results.
    Exploratory is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing.There is no well defined steps or procedure followed for this kind of testing.The test charters with test objectives can be used as reference.

  42. Error guessing depends on the experience of the testers and could figure and check it in less time effectively whereas exploratory testing is based on the tester’s intuition of using the applied approach.

  43. Error guessing type of software testing includes the tester’s skills and experience. It is done when the defect is not captured by formal methods. For example when spaces are left between the text filed, Exploratory testing is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. In this kind of testing, there is no well defined steps or procedure followed in this type of testing

  44. Error guessing testing is a methodology used by testers to identify any defects based on their experience and skillset. It’s done when defects are not found by formal methods.

    Exploratory testing is done by the tester’s instinct while exploring the software. Constraints such as time and specification lead to exploratory.

  45. 1. What is difference between error guessing and exploratory testing.
    – Error guessing is when testers use their experience and skills to find defects in the software
    Exploratory testing is done by the tester to identify the defects of the software

  46. Error guessing is an experienced based testing. It is where the test analyst use’s his or her experience to identify the problematic areas of the software. Exploratory testing is all about testers exploring an application to identify and document possible bugs. It is based on the tester’s intuition.

  47. Error guessing testing includes testers skills and experience.
    Exploratory testing includes testers intuition.

  48. Error Guessing testing is based on the tester’s skill and experience. The tester uses past experiences to guess the errors. It is done when the defect is not captured by formal methods, it doesn’t guarantee the quality of the software or the full coverage of the application.
    Exploratory Testing is used when there is insufficient time or inadequate specifications for testing. Its based on the intuition, discovery and relies on the guidance of the individual tester to uncover defects that are not easily covered on the scope of other tests.

  49. The difference between error guessing and exploratory testing:
    Error guessing focuses on predicting areas of failure, while exploratory testing focuses on intuitively exploring and investigating a software.

  50. Error guessing:
    This testing is done by well experienced testers. Here the experience of the testers is important. The testing will be done like
    divide by zero, leaving blank space in input fields.
    Exploratory testing:
    This testing is done when there is an inadequate specifications. Here well experienced testers are not necessary. The testing is done by the intuition of the testers.

  51. Error guessing: Tester applies experience to guess the areas in the application that are prone to error. Error guessing is one of the important software testing techniques which does not guarantee the quality of the software and it does not provide the full coverage of the application. This technique should be combined with other techniques to give better results.
    Exploratory testing: As the name implies, the tester explores the application and uses his experience to navigate through different functionalities. This is used when there is insufficient time and inadequate specifications for testing. It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques. There is no well-defined steps or procedure in this testing.

  52. Error Guessing: Tester applies his/her experience to guess the areas in the application that are prone to error.
    Exploratory Testing: As the name implies, the tester explores the application, and uses his experience to navigate thru different functionalities.

  53. Error guessing is done by the skilled, experienced testers to identify problematic areas in the software. This technique should be combined with other techniques to give better results.

    Exploratory testing is done when the specifications are inadequate, and time is short to explore defects based on testers intuition/ experience. It is used in complement with other formal testing techniques.

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