Exploratory Testing with BesTest
Combine human creativity with structured investigation to find defects that scripted tests miss.
BesTest supports exploratory testing alongside scripted tests in the same cycle. Create charter-based test cases, use the test player to capture findings as you go, and link discovered defects back to requirements so nothing falls through the cracks.
Implement Exploratory Testing with BesTest
Define a test charter
Create a test case in BesTest with a charter as the title - something like "Explore the payment flow with expired credit cards." Add the goal and scope in the description. Keep steps loose: "Attempt checkout with various expired card states" rather than prescriptive click-by-click instructions. The charter gives direction without constraining investigation.
Create a test case with flexible steps
Add a few high-level steps that define areas to probe, not exact sequences to follow. For example: "1. Try boundary values on quantity fields, 2. Test with different user roles, 3. Explore error handling on network timeout." Each step is a prompt for investigation, not a script to replay.
Use the test player to capture findings as you go
Open the test player and step through your charter. Mark steps as pass, fail, or blocked based on what you discover. Add comments to each step with observations - what you tried, what happened, what felt fragile. The player captures your findings in a structured format even though the testing itself is unscripted.
Log defects directly from execution
When you find a bug during exploration, create a linked Jira issue directly from the BesTest execution context. The issue links back to the test case and, through the test case, to the requirement it covers. Attach screenshots and reproduction steps to the Jira issue. The traceability chain is preserved automatically.
Add successful explorations to regression collections
After an exploratory session uncovers a real risk area, convert the charter into a more detailed scripted test case and tag it for inclusion in a Smart Collection. Future regression cycles will include this test automatically. Exploratory testing feeds your scripted suite - each discovery makes your test coverage stronger.
Built for Exploratory Testing
Test cycles can include both scripted test cases and exploratory charters, so teams run balanced cycles without needing separate tools or tracking systems.
The test player captures step-level results and comments during exploration, preserving findings in a structured format that can be reviewed and shared.
Creating linked Jira issues from the execution context connects defects back to requirements through BesTest's traceability model - so the team sees which requirement a bug affects and its significance.
The coverage model highlights high-significance requirements with insufficient test coverage - natural targets for exploratory sessions where scripted tests have not yet been written.
Related Resources
How to Write Test Cases: The Complete 2026 Guide
Learn the art and science of writing test cases that catch bugs, are easy to maintain, and provide clear documentation. This guide covers everything from basic structure to advanced techniques used by professional QA teams.
Test Case Review: Best Practices for Quality Assurance
Learn why test case review is essential for quality assurance and how to implement an effective review workflow. Includes checklists, templates, and tool recommendations.
Why Storing Test Cases as Jira Issues Slows Down Your Team
Some test management tools store test cases as Jira issues. While this seems convenient, it can cause serious performance problems at scale. Learn about "issue bloat" and how to avoid it.
Smoke Testing in Jira
Quick sanity checks to verify critical functionality after deployments
User Acceptance Testing (UAT) in Jira
Validate that the software meets business requirements with stakeholder-driven testing
Sprint Testing in Jira
Integrate testing into your agile sprints with test cycles tied to sprint stories
Exploratory Testing
An unscripted testing approach where testers actively explore the software using their expertise and intuition.
Test Case
A documented set of conditions and steps used to verify that a software feature works as expected.
Defect (Bug)
A flaw in the software that causes it to behave incorrectly or unexpectedly.
Test Execution
The process of running test cases and recording the actual results.
Test Scenario
A high-level description of a possible user situation or functionality to be tested.
Test Data
The input values, datasets, and environmental data used during test execution.
Smoke Testing
Quick testing of critical functionality to verify the build is stable enough for further testing.
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