What is a key characteristic of exploratory testing?

Exploratory testing is characterized by the emphasis on the tester's autonomy and creativity in identifying defects. This approach allows testers to actively engage with the application and use their intuition, experience, and knowledge of the domain to explore functionalities and interactions that may not be covered by predefined test cases.

In exploratory testing, testers often use their judgment to design tests on the fly, adapting their strategies based on the results they observe during testing. This flexibility enables the identification of unexpected issues or edge cases that rigid test scripts might not capture. The goal is to uncover issues through exploration, rather than following a fixed script or checklist, making the process highly dynamic and responsive.

This characteristic distinguishes exploratory testing from more scripted approaches, where extensive documentation and strict adherence to predefined test cases can limit creativity and the ability to adapt to unforeseen scenarios. By prioritizing tester autonomy, exploratory testing can lead to a deeper understanding of the system under test and often reveals defects that may not be readily apparent through traditional testing methods.