Exploratory Testing vs. Scripted Testing: Tell Them Apart and Use Both

Anushree Chatterjee

The rising demand for product quality has led to different testing approaches. Teams often find themselves in a fix trying to pick from them. Of these varied options, there are two primary approaches: scripted testing and exploratory testing. Scripted testing is like following a detailed map on a road trip, while exploratory testing is like taking a scenic detour to see what you discover. Each of these approaches has its benefits and limitations.

This article will help you understand the core differences between these two methods and, more importantly, show you why the most successful teams don’t choose one over the other. Instead, they use both to create a robust and comprehensive testing strategy that catches bugs and ensures a flawless user experience.

What is Scripted Testing?

Let us understand the definition and process of scripted testing.

Scripted Testing Definition

ISTQB defines scripted testing as – Testing (manual or automated) that follows a test script.

Scripted testing focuses on having all necessary documents, such as requirements, test plans, test cases, and test strategies, ready before the testing begins. This approach works very well in situations where the requirements are clear. Testers can create test cases in advance based on these requirements. Each test case defines the objective of that case, the steps to execute it, and the expected results. This approach is systematic and ensures that all major paths are tested.

The Process of Scripted Testing

Scripted testing is all about structure, planning, and precision. It’s a methodical approach that ensures every necessary check is completed and documented. The process can be broken down into a few key phases:

• Test Planning and Design: The testing team carefully reviews the project’s requirements, user stories, and design documents. They’re looking to answer the question, “What exactly is this software supposed to do?”
• Creating Test Cases: Based on this information, they create test cases. This phase is the most time-consuming part of scripted testing, but it’s also the most critical for ensuring comprehensive coverage.
• Test Execution: Once the test cases are written and reviewed, the testing team begins the execution phase. Testers follow the step-by-step instructions in each test case exactly as written. They don’t deviate from the script. This structured process makes it easy for anyone on the team, from a junior tester to a manager, to understand exactly what was tested and what the outcome was.
• Reporting and Maintenance: After the test execution is complete, the results are documented and reported to the development team and stakeholders.
• Continuous Improvement: As the software evolves, the test scripts are updated to reflect the changes. This allows the team to run the same tests over and over again to ensure that new code hasn’t broken any existing features – a process known as regression testing.

When to Use Scripted Testing?

• When Stability is Critical: For core functions of your application – like the login process, checkout flow, or data entry – you need to know they work flawlessly every single time. Scripted testing is perfect here because you can verify that these key features are always performing as expected.
• For Regression Testing: When you’ve made changes to the code, you need to ensure you haven’t accidentally broken something that was working before. Scripted testing provides a repeatable, consistent set of checks that you can run after every new release to quickly identify any new bugs.
• For Onboarding Junior Testers: Scripted testing is a great way to introduce new team members to the product. The detailed, step-by-step instructions in the test cases allow them to contribute to the testing process effectively, even without deep prior knowledge of the application.
• When You Need to Prove Compliance: In industries like finance or healthcare, where regulations require you to prove that your software meets specific standards, documented test cases are a must-have. Scripted tests provide a clear, auditable record of what was tested and the results.
• When You Need Detailed Reports: If your stakeholders or managers want to see quantitative data on testing progress – like how many tests passed or failed – scripted testing is the way to go. The pass/fail results from each test case make it easy to generate detailed and meaningful reports.

Advantages of Scripted Testing

• Consistency and Repeatability: The biggest advantage is that you can run the exact same test repeatedly with the same expected outcome. This is crucial for regression testing, where you need to confirm that new code hasn’t broken existing features. A documented script ensures that every tester follows the same steps, eliminating human error and inconsistency.
• Clear Documentation and Progress Tracking: Scripted tests provide a clear record of what was tested, how it was tested, and what the results were. This makes it easy to track progress, report on software quality to stakeholders, and meet compliance requirements in regulated industries.
• Lower Skill Dependency: Because the instructions are detailed and step-by-step, scripted testing can be performed effectively by testers with less experience. This allows a team to scale its testing efforts and onboard new members quickly without sacrificing quality on core features.
• Reliable for Core Functionality: For the most critical features of an application, such as user login, checkout processes, or data storage, scripted tests are the most reliable method. They provide a high degree of confidence that these essential functions will work correctly every time.

Disadvantages of Scripted Testing

• Time-consuming to Create: Writing detailed, comprehensive test scripts from scratch takes a significant amount of time and effort. This can slow down the initial testing phase, especially in fast-paced or Agile development environments.
• Can Miss Unexpected Bugs: Scripts are designed to test for anticipated outcomes. They are not effective at finding bugs that occur when a user does something unexpected or when two features interact in a way no one predicted. The tester simply follows instructions and does not explore the unknown.
• Difficult to Maintain: In a project with frequent changes, test scripts can quickly become outdated. Each time the software’s design or functionality changes, the corresponding scripts must be updated, which adds to the maintenance workload.
• Limited Creativity: Scripted testing doesn’t leverage the creativity and intuition of a skilled tester. The tester’s role is to execute a plan, not to discover new ways a user might interact with the software. This can lead to a less thorough exploration of the application’s true behavior.

What is Exploratory Testing?

Let us understand the definition and process of exploratory testing.

Exploratory Testing Definition

ISTQB defines exploratory testing as – An informal test design technique where the tester actively controls the design of the tests as those tests are performed and uses information gained while testing to design new and better tests.

Exploratory testing relies on the tester’s ability to explore the feature or product to identify bugs. Instead of following a set number of steps, testers are free to get creative and come up with test cases to challenge the system.

Ideally, experienced testers should take up this activity since their experience gives them the product knowledge and skills to be able to think of creative test cases. This testing approach can seem a bit unconventional, but it definitely yields results.

The Process of Exploratory Testing

As random as it may seem, there is a plan of action to this approach. Here’s a general flow of thought that goes behind exploratory testing:

• Figuring Out Where to Start From: Studying and understanding the bugs that occurred in previous versions of this product or feature gives a great starting point for identifying the error-prone areas. This helps the testers prioritize their approach.
• Setting the Ground Rules with a Test Charter: Once the approach is finalized, it is necessary to align on what needs to be done. Though the tester has the freedom to get creative with testing, there needs to be some ground rules to define the objective of this exercise. Since this is not a very structured approach, being clear about the agenda and having a rough approach helps. Members involved in exploratory testing create a test charter to define:
  • A time limit
  • Key areas to cover
  • How to test them
  This exercise helps identify use cases and different ways of testing them.
• Execution Based on the Test Charter: Now that the strategizing is done, it comes down to execution. However, this approach is quite time consuming and hence needs time limits. Time boxing aids with this problem. The testers allot a time slot for this activity wherein they carry out exploratory testing without any interruptions.
• Reviewing Observations for Further Actions: After the entire exercise, the observations are recorded and communicated to the respective team for further action.

Read: Exploratory Testing: How Do You Approach it as a QA Engineer?

When to Use Exploratory Testing?

• When a New Feature is Being Developed: When requirements are still fluid or not clear, and the code is fresh at the start of the project, exploratory testing is perfect. Testers can dive in, learn the new functionality as they go, and uncover major bugs or design flaws before they become too costly to fix.
• When You Need to Test a Complex System: For applications with many interconnected parts or intricate workflows, scripted tests can become unwieldy. Exploratory testing lets a skilled tester follow their intuition, navigating the system in ways a script might never consider.
• When You Have a Tight Deadline: Writing comprehensive, scripted test cases takes time. If you need quick feedback on a new build or a critical hotfix, exploratory testing can provide fast, efficient results without the overhead of script creation.
• When You Need to Test Edge Cases: Scripts are great for verifying the “happy path” (the typical user journey). Exploratory testing is ideal for going off that path – using invalid inputs, trying strange combinations, or looking for unexpected ways a user might break the system.
• When You Want a Fresh Perspective: Bringing in an exploratory tester to look at a stable, long-standing feature can uncover issues that have been overlooked for years. They’re not constrained by old scripts and can find bugs that the regular team is too familiar with to notice.

Advantages of Exploratory Testing

• It Discovers the Unknown: The primary purpose of exploratory testing is discovery. It’s designed to find bugs that you didn’t know to look for. By giving testers the freedom to explore, you find creative, obscure, and often more severe bugs that a rigid script would miss.
• It’s Flexible and Adaptable: Exploratory testing thrives in dynamic environments. When a development team is making frequent changes or iterating quickly, a scripted approach would require constant updates to the test scripts. Exploratory testing adapts instantly to these changes.
• It Leverages Tester’s Skills: Unlike scripted testing, which can sometimes be repetitive, exploratory testing is an art form. It empowers experienced testers to use their knowledge, intuition, and creativity to find bugs. You’re not just checking boxes; you’re thinking like a user and a developer at the same time.
• It’s Fast and Efficient: With exploratory testing, the planning and execution happen simultaneously. You don’t spend days writing scripts before you can start testing. This makes it an incredibly efficient way to gain quick, high-quality feedback on a new feature or build.

Disadvantages of Exploratory Testing

• It Can be Hard to Repeat: Since there’s no formal script, it can be difficult to run the exact same test again. If a bug is found, reproducing the exact steps to file a bug report can sometimes be a challenge.
• It’s Not Great for Regression Testing: When you need to confirm that a bug fix hasn’t broken an old feature, scripted testing is far more reliable. Exploratory testing is designed for discovery, not for the repetitive, routine checks that are essential for regression testing.
• It Depends Heavily on the Tester: The success of exploratory testing relies on the skill and experience of the person doing the testing. A less-experienced tester might not know what to look for, leading to missed bugs and a false sense of security.
• Documentation is Minimal: Since the focus is on finding bugs quickly, documentation is usually brief and limited to a “test charter” or quick notes. This can make it difficult for other team members to understand what was tested and how thoroughly.
• Not Suitable for Compliance Checks: If the feature or product is expected to satisfy some key requirements in order to be compliant, maybe due to legal or security reasons, then exploratory testing may not work.

Exploratory Testing vs. Scripted Testing

Now that the basics of these two testing approaches have been understood, let’s have a look at the differences between them.

A Winning Combination: Using Both Approaches

The most effective software testing strategy isn’t about choosing a side. It’s about leveraging the strengths of both scripted testing and exploratory testing to create a complete and robust process. When you use them together, they form a powerful synergy that ensures both the reliability and the quality of your product.

Here’s a practical way to combine them for maximum impact:

• Start with Exploratory Testing on New Features. When a new feature is being built, don’t immediately jump into writing scripts. Instead, let your testers dive in with a focused exploratory approach. This is the perfect time to find creative, unexpected bugs and learn how the feature truly behaves.
• Use Those Insights to Write Comprehensive Scripted Tests. After the initial bugs have been found and fixed, use your newfound knowledge to create detailed scripted tests. These scripts should cover the critical paths and essential functionality you identified during exploration. This ensures that the most important parts of your application are consistently checked and protected from future regressions.
• Keep Using Exploratory Testing for Ad-hoc Checks. Even after your scripted tests are running smoothly, keep exploratory testing in your toolbox. Use it to check for edge cases, to see how different features interact, or to simply get a fresh perspective on a stable part of the application.

In this model, scripted testing provides the essential stability and reliability you need for your core features. It’s your safety net. Meanwhile, exploratory testing provides the essential flexibility and discovery you need to find the unusual and hidden bugs that can ruin a user’s experience.

Moreover, using scripted testing to check all the primary test cases that are necessary features from a compliance standpoint is helpful. In fact, this can then be delegated to other testers who may not be experienced enough or who do not have the domain knowledge. This frees up the experienced testers to take up exploratory testing to ensure that all those edge cases and user journeys get checked. Read: Why Testers Require Domain Knowledge?

Automating Scripted Testing

If the primary test cases that are covered with scripted testing have to be executed repeatedly, then using automation can further reduce the burden. If you use a tool that allows your in-house manual testers to do this automation activity themselves, you’ll end up saving on company costs. testRigor is one such intelligent tool that can help, as it lets anyone write tests in simple English language. It uses generative AI to make test creation, execution, and maintenance easy. A lot is possible with this tool:

• Create Scripted Tests in English: testRigor’s generative AI capabilities bypass the need to know programming languages completely. Anyone can write test scripts using simple English language. Read: All-Inclusive Guide to Test Case Creation in testRigor.
• Stable Test Execution: Since testRigor does not depend on the technical details of the UI elements (like CSS selectors or XPaths), it does not get affected by minor UI breakages.
• Adapting to UI Changes Easily: If your application’s UI evolves, then testRigor can adapt to most of those changes. The tool uses AI to perceive the application like a human emulator. Read: AI-Based Self-Healing for Test Automation.
• Integrate with CI/CD: testRigor supports integrations with multiple platforms, including those required for CI/CD.
• Test Everything with a Single Tool: You can test across multiple platforms (web, mobile, desktop, mainframes), OSes, applications (web, hybrid, native), and devices. Cover a wide range of test scenarios, including testing AI features like LLMs, chatbots, and more.

In fact, with testRigor’s generative AI capabilities, you can even do exploratory testing!

Read: How to Automate Exploratory Testing with AI in testRigor.

Final Note

Be it exploratory testing or scripted testing, both have their limitations as well as strong points. Scripted testing provides structure and reliability, while exploratory testing provides flexibility and discovery. The best software testing strategy leverages the strengths of both methods.

Understand your project requirements and strategically leverage these two types of testing for successful QA.

“We spent so much time on maintenance when using Selenium, and we spend nearly zero time with maintenance using testRigor.”

Keith Powe VP Of Engineering - IDT