Model-Based Testing and Exploratory Testing: Is Synergy Possible?

Model-based testing represents an efficient method to detect software defects. This approach has a limitation, when the model of the system under test is inconsistent, incomplete, or, does not exist at all. An exploratory testing approach represents an alternative for such situations: initially it does not require a model of the tested system. The testers are using their skills and intuition to explore the system. Nevertheless, this technique has also its disadvantages. For example, it is hard to measure the effectiveness of the testing or to re-evaluate certain test when the explored path and exercised test cases are not being documented properly. In this paper, we are proposing a technique that utilizes advantages of the both model-based testing and exploratory testing and tries to eliminate their issues. The model of the application is dynamically created and updated in the exploratory stage when state data (the page user is currently on, all input, action and link elements) and every step that was taken is recorded. This structure documents what parts of the tested system were explored and what parts has to be explored later on. Recorded steps are also converted to test case scenario that can be reused later in the testing process.