Software testers rely on well-defined requirements to guide their testing process. But what happens when there are no requirements? No documentation, no acceptance criteria, and no clear expectations from stakeholders—just an application that needs to be tested.
This situation is more common than it seems. Here’s how testers can approach requirement-less testing and still ensure quality.
1. Start with Exploratory Testing
Without requirements, exploratory testing is the best way to get familiar with the application. Instead of following predefined test cases, testers interact with the software to discover functionality, behavior, and potential defects.
How to do it:
- Navigate through the application like an end-user.
- Identify key features and common workflows.
- Note any unexpected behaviors, UI inconsistencies, or crashes.
Goal: Understand what the application does before deciding how to test it.
2. Identify Patterns and Industry Standards
Even if no documentation exists, industry standards and common design patterns can guide testing.
How to do it:
- Compare the application’s behavior with similar products.
- Check if UI elements follow standard usability guidelines (e.g., a login button should not be hidden).
- Validate core functions like authentication, payment processing, or form submissions.
Goal: Ensure the application aligns with expected behavior in its domain.
3. Leverage User Perspective
Since no formal requirements exist, the best reference is the user’s expectations.
How to do it:
- Think like an end-user. What actions would they perform?
- Test common user scenarios (e.g., sign-up, login, adding items to a cart).
- Look for anything that feels confusing, broken, or unexpected.
Goal: Ensure the software is usable and intuitive even without formal requirements.
4. Communicate with Developers & Stakeholders
If no written requirements exist, someone still built the application. Developers and product owners may have an idea of what the software is supposed to do.
How to do it:
- Ask developers about expected behavior for specific features.
- Get feedback from business stakeholders on key functionality.
- Clarify critical workflows (e.g., what happens after submitting a form?).
Goal: Gather informal requirements through discussions.
5. Reverse Engineer the System
When no documentation is available, testers can analyze the application’s structure to infer requirements.
How to do it:
- Review database changes when performing actions (e.g., is a new user record created after sign-up?).
- Check network requests in browser dev tools or Postman.
- Explore logs and error messages for hidden functionality.
Goal: Understand how the application processes data and actions.
6. Validate Core Functionality
Regardless of requirements, every system has some fundamental expectations that can be tested.
Things to check:
Does login/logout work properly?
Are form inputs validated correctly?
Does navigation function as expected?
Is data saved and retrieved correctly?
Are error messages meaningful and helpful?
Goal: Ensure the system is stable and key functions work correctly.
7. Create Assumptive Test Cases
When requirements are missing, testers can create test cases based on logical assumptions.
How to do it:
- Write test cases covering basic functionalities first.
- Define edge cases (e.g., what happens when submitting a blank form?).
- Get validation from developers or stakeholders before executing complex tests.
Goal: Establish a baseline for testing, even if formal requirements are absent.
8. Document Everything You Discover
Since there are no existing requirements, testers should document whatever they learn while testing.
How to do it:
- Keep a log of bugs, unexpected behaviors, and system responses.
- Maintain a list of test scenarios for future reference.
- Share findings with the team to create informal requirements for future releases.
Goal: Build a knowledge base to assist future testing efforts.
Conclusion
Testing without requirements is challenging, but not impossible. By using exploratory testing, industry knowledge, user perspective, and communication, testers can define their own testing approach and still ensure software quality.
Even in the absence of documentation, a good tester can still uncover defects, validate functionality, and contribute valuable insights. The key is to be adaptable, think critically, and document findings for future use.