testcharters

A test charter, or testcharter, is a concise document used in software testing to guide a specific testing session. It defines the objective, scope, and constraints, and serves as a lightweight agreement between testers and stakeholders for time-boxed exploratory work.

Common components include: objective or goal; scope; test approach; resources and roles; environment and data; timebox; deliverables; exit criteria or success criteria; and risks or constraints.

Charters are typically created by a tester in collaboration with a product owner, QA lead, or other stakeholders. They are used during a session to focus exploration, track what is being tested, and capture initial findings.

After a session, a debrief records what was learned, what defects were found, and what follow-up work is needed. Charters also link to broader planning by providing a lightweight mechanism to document intent without replacing a formal test plan.

Benefits include clarity, focus, and traceability for exploratory testing; they support timeboxing and learning. Limitations include potential gaps in coverage if misdefined, reliance on tester skill, and the need for disciplined debriefing.

See also exploratory testing, session-based testing, context-driven testing.