This article presents a list of exploratory testing extensions available for the dominant Chrome browser. The current trend in software testing might be to talk about test automation or artificial intelligence, but in some cases nothing replace the intelligence of a human tester to detect bugs and consequences of irrational user behavior.
Wikipedia defines exploratory testing as “an approach to software testing that is concisely described as simultaneous learning, test design and test execution. […] While the software is being tested, the tester learns things that together with experience and creativity generates new good tests to run.” This article present a list of exploratory testing extensions available on the Chrome Web Store as it is currently the browser with the larger market share.
The main features you can expect from an exploratory testing tool are:
* Easy access to the tool features from a toolbar icon
* Start and stop exploratory testing sessions
* Taking notes while exploring a web application for test
* Classifying your notes in different categories (questions, bugs, …)
* Taking screenshots and / or screen recordings
* Automatic recording of application information like url, page title, etc.
* Produce and save session reports in html or pdf formats
Some vendors’ tools will also allow sharing data with test management platforms, but they can also work as a standalone solution with more limited features. We list here only Chrome extensions that can work without being connected to another tool.
Updates
August 5 2024
* added AIFEX – AI For Exploratory Testing, Fintest Pro, QMetry Test Management for Jira (QTM4J)
AIFEX – AI For Exploratory Testing
AIFEX (AI For Exploratory testing) helps testers to collaborate during exploratory test sessions by advising them to perform interactions that have rarely or never been explored. The main advantage is that it promotes diversity of tests.
AIFEX consists of two main elements:
* A chrome plugin that listens to all interactions performed by testers, transmits them to the server, requests predictions for future interactions and visually highlights the expected interaction.
* A central server that stores all interactions performed by testers, integrates them into an AI and returns predictions calculated by the AI indicating future interactions that should be performed by testers.
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/aifex-ai-for-exploratory/dmpbhianmdipngcgmkoijmaphnkhchaj
Fintest Pro – Your Exploratory test companion
Fintest Pro is an exploratory software testing tool. Based on 25 years of experience in the software quality assurance field, Fintest Pro provides software testers with the tools they need to explore applications, find bugs, validate changes, and share findings with their team.
With Fintest Pro, you can:
* Keep notes on what needs to be tested, and why it needs to be tested
* Track questions and issues
* Share findings with colleagues
* Execute tests
* Validate changes
* Save reports
During exploratory test execution, testers can:
* Determine Test Coverage – take notes on the coverage of test cases,
* Report bugs – take screenshots or record a video of a sequence of steps
* Log Risks – Note which risks need to be covered and which are all important ones
* Track Test Execution Log – Recordings on the test execution
* Raise Issues / Queries – Take notes on the question and issues on the system
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/fintest-pro-your-explorat/pdnloikhmiklhhankbkbkfhmlnnkgfmk
QMetry Test Management for Jira (QTM4J) – Exploratory Testing
QMetry Test Management for Jira (QTM4J) – Exploratory Testing is the offers built-in Exploratory Testing in Atlassian. While they explore websites, to ensure that testers’ time is invested in investigating the site instead of writing every single test activity.You can test while you explore:
* Record test sessions while you explore
* Capture each event, navigation and take screenshots
* Store captured details in QMetry
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/qmetry-for-jira-qtm4j-exp/caailpilkjenpnbiddcmbbhmpgobcgfo
Test & Feedback from Microsoft Corporation
Test & Feedback is a Chrome extension that allows easy recording of exploratory testing sessions with a note and screenshot taking features.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/test-feedback/gnldpbnocfnlkkicnaplmkaphfdnlplb
Exploratory Testing Chrome Extension from Francisco Moreno
The Exploratory Testing Chrome Extension is a simple tool that provides a structure to record your thoughts while testing a web application with automatic url tracking. It produces a nice report summarizing your session.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/exploratory-testing-chrom/khigmghadjljgjpamimgjjmpmlbgmekj
SpiraCapture from Inflectra
SpiraCapture by Inflectra is a Chrome extension that helps you carry out exploratory testing as you can create step-by-step records with screenshots.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/spiracapture-exploratory/naknodgmafmgdbpkjbanlgnhlpificmj
Bug Magnet from bugmagnet.org
Bug Magnet is different as it doesn’t allow recording exploratory testing sessions, but instead it provides easy access to common software testing problematic values, edge cases and even SQL or JavaScript injection scripts to test security. You will be able to access them easily during exploratory testing sessions, so that you can fill the tested fields with a chosen value.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bug-magnet/efhedldbjahpgjcneebmbolkalbhckfi