# Chatbot Testing and Quality Assurance
Before deploying the chatbot to production, thoroughly test it to ensure it delivers accurate, helpful responses.
Why Test the Chatbot?
Testing ensures:
- The bot returns correct answers for common queries.
- Fallback and escalation flows work as expected.
- The widget displays correctly across browsers and devices.
Test Modes
1. Preview Mode
Use the Live Preview panel in Settings → Chatbot to interact with the bot before publishing changes.
2. Staging Environment
Test on a staging version of your knowledge base or website before rolling out to production.
Test Case Categories
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Direct Answers | Ask a question with a clear, published answer. |
| Paraphrased Queries | Ask the same question in different ways. |
| Out-of-Scope Queries | Ask something not covered in the knowledge base. |
| Edge Cases | Very short queries, typos, non-English input. |
| Escalation Trigger | Type "talk to a human" or send repeated bad queries. |
Sample Test Script
| Query | Expected Behavior |
|---|---|
| "How do I reset my password?" | Returns article link + answer. |
| "pword reset" | Returns answer despite typo. |
| "What is the weather today?" | Returns fallback message. |
| "I need to speak to someone" | Triggers escalation flow. |
| "pricing" | Returns pricing-related article links. |
Regression Testing
After updating articles or bot settings, re-run your test script to ensure existing queries still return correct answers.
Summary
A structured testing process gives you confidence that the chatbot will perform reliably in production and provide a positive experience for every user.