What is ad hoc testing

Finding hidden software bugs isn’t always easy, and traditional testing methods might miss some bugs. That’s why ad hoc testing is so helpful. This flexible and creative testing method lets testers explore freely and identify flaws that other methods may ignore. It’s useful when you’re on a tight timeline or need to test some unexpected user interactions.

So, how does ad hoc testing work? Let’s take a closer look at what it is, how it helps, and why it’s so important.

What is ad hoc testing?

Ad hoc testing is an informal and unstructured type of software testing carried out to uncover hidden bugs and flaws. It doesn’t follow predefined test cases or documentation, making it a flexible and spontaneous way to evaluate software.

It works best when there’s little time to prepare or tight deadlines to meet. For example, if a customer needs the product by 6 p.m. and development wraps up at 4 p.m., the team can use the remaining two hours to perform ad hoc testing.

Core features of ad hoc testing

Ad hoc testing avoids traditional methods like test design and documentation, focusing on quick, hands-on interaction with the software. Testers explore the application freely, using techniques like

• error guessing, where the tester uses past experiences to try to guess potential areas of bugs;
• boundary testing, where the tester focuses on examining extreme cases or input values; and
• scenario-based testing, where the tester tries different real-life uses of the application and looks for errors.

Ad hoc testing relies on imagination or perspective change. Here are its features.

Unstructured yet focused

While it’s true that ad hoc testing doesn’t follow predefined protocols or test cases, it’s more focused. Testers use what they already know and their instincts to concentrate on portions of the application that are most likely to contain defects.

Exploratory in nature

Testers investigate the software dynamically, learning and adapting as they go. This real-time discovery process helps uncover edge cases and unexpected issues.

Quick and efficient

Ad hoc testing can be conducted quickly, making it ideal for situations where time is limited or immediate feedback is required.

Experience driven

The effectiveness of this type of testing very much depends on the tester’s familiarity with the system and understanding of common failure patterns.

The effectiveness of this type of testing very much depends on the tester’s familiarity with the system and understanding of common failure patterns.

How to prepare for ad hoc testing

For any testing, whether formal or informal, first comes preparation. Here’s how to prepare a successful ad hoc test.

Understand the system

Get to know the purpose of the application, what it offers, and its problem areas. The better you know the system, the better your exploration will be.

Focus on high-risk areas

Identify parts of the application that are critical or have a history of issues. For example, if you’re testing a payment gateway, prioritize the checkout process.

Set clear goals

Even in the absence of formally documented test cases, indicate what you wish to achieve. Are you trying to find use problems, test the edges of multiple cases, or perform a stress test of some parts?

Leverage past insights

Go through bug reports or feedback provided during earlier testing cycles in a bid to discover trends or frequent errors.

Assemble tools

Get a basic bug tracking or a note taking tool that will enable you to capture your findings easily.

How to perform ad hoc testing

Even though ad hoc testing can appear to be a disorganized process, you can enhance its benefits by incorporating a systematic strategy. Here’s how to do it.

Start with key features

Start by analyzing the most popular or paramount features. For instance, in a shopping application, that might be the commonly used search bar, product pages, and checkout processes.

Vary test inputs

Use a mix of valid, invalid, and edge case input values. For example, enter very long text or special characters, or leave some fields empty.

Simulate user behavior

Mimic the behavior of different user personas. How would a novice use the system? What would happen if an experienced user pushed its limits?

Explore edge cases

Test the system with unusual actions, such as navigating back and forth quickly or opening multiple sessions simultaneously.

Record your results

Ad hoc testing is most effective when the tester records the results immediately after the test. The issue, the steps that had to be followed to replicate this issue, and its effect on functionality should all be recorded. This increases availability and helps you decide which repairs are more critical.

Communicate with your team

Report your findings to the programmers and other testers to confirm the results and decide about further actions. This step allows for faster solutions and better testing.

Ad hoc testing: how it works with other types

Ad hoc testing is a flexible way to find bugs that other testing methods might miss. It doesn’t adhere to conventional methodologies or frameworks, and it’s based on the assumptions of the tester and their creativity. This is why it goes hand in hand with formal testing methods like functional, exploratory, and regression testing.

Ad hoc testing fills gaps left by formal methods by quickly validating changes and discovering hidden bugs, especially in fast-paced environments like agile or DevOps. For example, functional testing might ensure that the correct inputs for login are used, but through ad hoc testing, it’s possible to see whether inputting an emoji would lead to a login error.

Functional testing ensures that features meet the requirements, exploratory testing involves planned learning, and regression testing checks the stability of features. On the other hand, ad hoc testing doesn’t stop there—it goes further to test the edge cases and what more the user can do. Sharing findings and using bug trackers strengthens overall testing efforts as well as the quality of the software and user experience.

Ad hoc testing doesn’t stop there—it goes further to test the edge cases and what more the user can do.

When to use ad hoc testing

Ad hoc testing is most successful during the critical stages of software development. Its unstructured nature aids in detecting hidden bugs by examining areas of the program that may be overlooked during the formal testing phase.

Best times to perform

The best times to perform ad hoc testing are before any major release of an application, after formal testing, or during bug fixes.

• Before major releases: It catches last-minute issues that might occur just before the product is launched, like unexpected crashes caused by unusual user actions.
• After formal testing: It fills gaps left by structured tests. As Titus Winters highlights on Google Testing Blog, “When a test fails, you should be able to begin investigation with nothing more than the test’s name and its failure messages.” Ad hoc testing helps uncover problems that structured tests might miss.
• During bug fixes: It ensures that fixes on a particular feature don’t affect the other parts of the software.
• When time is limited: When deadlines are tight, this testing should be used. It’s quick and efficient.
• In agile workflows: It’s ideal for quick feedback cycles like agile.
• During learning phases: Early testing allows testers to observe and explore how the system works.

Benefits of ad hoc testing

Ad hoc testing brings unique advantages that structured testing methods might miss. Here are its key benefits.

• Uncovers hidden bugs: It can find unexpected issues caused by rare user actions or unusual inputs.
• Flexible and spontaneous: It doesn’t follow a script, so testers can explore areas that aren’t covered by formal tests.
• Quick and efficient: When time is tight, it offers a fast way to validate important software features.
• Complements other testing methods: It fills in gaps left by structured tests, giving a more comprehensive look at the software.
• Improves user experience: It helps discover problems that could affect how real users interact with the software, leading to better performance.

Limitations of ad hoc testing

Ad hoc testing is creative and more flexible than any other method, but it has its downsides. Here’s what you need to know.

• No documentation: Given its unstructured nature, there’s usually no evidence as to what was tested and how the bugs were located.
• Difficult to replicate: Without test plans, replicating the same steps to reproduce bugs is difficult.
• Tester dependent: Its efficacy is highly dependent on the skill, imagination, and intuitive capability of a tester.
• Limited coverage: May miss critical areas because it lacks a structured approach.
• Not scalable: For big projects, using this testing technique alone isn’t feasible.

Ad hoc testing best practices

To enhance your ad hoc testing, consider the following best practices:

• Focus on high-risk areas: Make sure to test those features or workflows that are extensively used by the users.
• Keep notes: Document any issues discovered and how to recreate them, even in unstructured testing.
• Use your creativity: Pretend to be a real customer and take unanticipated actions to uncover hidden bugs.
• Test after major changes: Perform after bug fixes or updates to check for any new issues and ensure nothing else breaks.
• Collaborate with team members: Share and discuss findings with developers and follow testers to improve overall test coverage.
• Combine with structured testing: Use alongside well-structured methods for the best testing results.

Final thoughts

Ad hoc testing is a great way to find hidden bugs and edge cases that formal tests may not cover. It allows testers to employ their creativity and quick thinking to catch defects caused by rare user actions or unexpected scenarios. This type of testing is useful in fast-paced situations where there’s little time to prepare. It also ensures critical features work as expected, even under unusual conditions.

When combined with structured testing approaches, ad hoc testing increases software reliability. Tricentis’s tools can help improve this process by delivering robust formal testing solutions while also allowing for the flexibility required for exploratory and ad hoc testing. Together, these methods ensure a more comprehensive evaluation, bridging the gap between planned and unplanned, and ultimately delivering a seamless user experience.

Whether you’re exploring edge cases, addressing defects, or ensuring last-minute quality, ad hoc testing and Tricentis’s products work hand in hand to safeguard software reliability.

This post was written by Inimfon Willie. Inimfon is a computer scientist with skills in Javascript, NodeJs, Dart, flutter and Go Language. He is very interested in writing technical documents, especially those centered on general computer science concepts, flutter, and backend technologies, where he can use his strong communication skills and ability to explain complex technical ideas in an understandable and concise manner.