What is the primary characteristic of exploratory testing?

The primary characteristic of exploratory testing is that it is an informal approach without predetermined test cases. This type of testing allows testers to use their intuition, experience, and creativity to explore the application, adapting their strategy on the fly based on their findings. Testers actively engage with the software, making decisions about what to test and how to test it as they go along. This flexibility can often lead to discovering defects that might be missed when following a rigid set of predefined test cases.

The nature of exploratory testing often means that it is less about following strict procedures and more about understanding the application and its functionality in depth, which can enhance the overall quality of the software being tested. Testers document their findings and insights gained during exploratory sessions, which can provide valuable information for future testing efforts, but this documentation is typically not extensive or a prerequisite to testing.

In contrast, options that suggest reliance on predefined test cases, extensive documentation, or prioritizing performance over defects do not accurately capture the essence of exploratory testing. These aspects are not fundamental to exploratory testing, as the method itself thrives on a more dynamic and flexible approach.