Ad hoc testing
Encyclopedia
Ad hoc testing is a commonly used term for software testing
performed without planning and documentation (but can be applied to early scientific experimental studies).
The tests are intended to be run only once, unless a defect is discovered. Ad hoc
testing is the least formal test method. As such, it has been criticized because it is not structured and hence defects found using this method may be harder to reproduce (since there are no written test cases). However, the strength of ad hoc testing is that important defects can be found quickly.
It is performed by improvisation: the tester seeks to find bug
s by any means that seem appropriate. Ad hoc testing can be seen as a light version of error guessing
, which itself is a light version of exploratory testing.
Software testing
Software testing is an investigation conducted to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the product or service under test. Software testing can also provide an objective, independent view of the software to allow the business to appreciate and understand the risks of software...
performed without planning and documentation (but can be applied to early scientific experimental studies).
The tests are intended to be run only once, unless a defect is discovered. Ad hoc
Ad hoc
Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning "for this". It generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes. Compare A priori....
testing is the least formal test method. As such, it has been criticized because it is not structured and hence defects found using this method may be harder to reproduce (since there are no written test cases). However, the strength of ad hoc testing is that important defects can be found quickly.
It is performed by improvisation: the tester seeks to find bug
Software bug
A software bug is the common term used to describe an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that produces an incorrect or unexpected result, or causes it to behave in unintended ways. Most bugs arise from mistakes and errors made by people in either a program's...
s by any means that seem appropriate. Ad hoc testing can be seen as a light version of error guessing
Error guessing
In software testing, error guessing is a test method in which test cases used to find bugs in programs are established based on experience in prior testing. The scope of test cases usually rely on the software tester involved, who uses past experience and intuition to determine what situations...
, which itself is a light version of exploratory testing.
See also
- Error guessingError guessingIn software testing, error guessing is a test method in which test cases used to find bugs in programs are established based on experience in prior testing. The scope of test cases usually rely on the software tester involved, who uses past experience and intuition to determine what situations...
- Exploratory testing
- Software testingSoftware testingSoftware testing is an investigation conducted to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the product or service under test. Software testing can also provide an objective, independent view of the software to allow the business to appreciate and understand the risks of software...
- San Francisco depotSan Francisco depotSan Francisco depot is a mnemonic for the SFDPO software exploratory testing heuristic. SFDPO stands for Structure, Function, Data, Platform and Operations. Each of these represents a different aspect of a software product.- Structure :...