Checklist-Based Testing

Checklist-based testing uses a high-level list of items to test, providing more flexibility than detailed test cases while being more structured than pure exploratory testing.

A checklist for a login feature might include:

• [ ] Valid credentials → successful login
• [ ] Invalid email format → error message
• [ ] Wrong password → error message (not revealing which field is wrong)
• [ ] Empty fields → validation messages
• [ ] SQL injection in email field → prevented
• [ ] XSS in email field → sanitized
• [ ] 'Remember me' functionality
• [ ] 'Forgot password' flow
• [ ] Session timeout behavior
• [ ] Multiple tab login behavior

Advantages over detailed test cases:

• Faster to create and maintain
• Allows tester judgment and creativity
• Easier to adapt to changes
• Good for experienced testers

Limitations:

• Assumes tester knowledge (junior testers may miss things)
• Less reproducible than detailed steps
• Harder to measure coverage precisely