Ad Hoc Testing
Ad hoc testing is an informal, unplanned software testing approach where testers explore an application without predefined test cases or documentation. It relies on the tester's intuition, experience, and creativity to find defects that structured testing might miss. This method is often used for quick checks, exploratory testing, or when time and resources are limited.
Developers should use ad hoc testing during early development phases, after bug fixes, or when rapid feedback is needed, as it helps uncover unexpected issues and usability problems. It's particularly valuable for exploratory testing to understand application behavior, complementing formal testing methods like unit or integration tests. However, it should not replace systematic testing due to its unstructured nature.