What Is Regression Testing? Definition, Tools, Examples

Regression testing is a necessary and important part of software development. It ensures that the software application is running smoothly and all functionalities are working properly. As software development progresses, bugs and defects can arise that can hinder the software’s performance. Regression testing makes sure that previous bugs have not resurfaced, and that new functionality does not cause any negative impact on existing features.

 

What is Regression Testing and Why is it Important?

 

Definition of Regression Testing

Regression testing is a type of software testing that validates if the current version of the software is behaving correctly after changes and/or new features have been added. It involves retesting previously tested functionalities and associated features of the software application to ensure that they still work perfectly as before.

 

Why is Regression Testing Important?

Regression testing is important because it is a way to ensure that important features have not been broken by changes or additions. By doing this type of testing, the testing team can guarantee that the user experience is not negatively impacted on any level and the overall user satisfaction is enhanced. Without regression testing, errors can slip through the testing process and affect the overall software quality.

 

When Should Regression Testing be Performed?

Regression testing should be performed after every change to the software application. This way, testing teams can make sure that the added feature or change did not negatively impact previously working functionalities. Performing regression tests after each change increases the quality of software and leads to more resilient code.

 

Regression Testing Techniques and Tools

 

Popular Regression Testing Techniques

There are different techniques that can be applied to ensure efficient regression testing. These techniques include unit testing, functional testing, and regional regression testing. Unit testing is done by the developer and consists of testing individual parts of the software. Functional testing is a type of testing that determines whether the software does what it is intended to do. Regional regression testing concentrates on testing features that are affected by changes.

 

Regression Testing Tools

There are many regression testing tools available, both paid and free versions. These tools are used for automating tests, functional and performance testing, as well as helping with testing suites’ creation. Popular regression testing tools include Selenium, TestComplete, and Ranorex.

 

Automated Regression Testing vs. Manual Regression Testing

Regression testing can involve manual or automated testing. While manual regression testing can be time-consuming, it is still a significant part of the testing process. Automated regression tests are faster, repeatable, and more efficient. By using automation testing, repetitive tests can be performed at a rapid speed, and the testing team can review the results quickly.

 

How to Perform Effective Regression Testing

 

Prioritizing Test Cases for Regression Testing

When you perform regression testing, it is important to prioritize test cases by identifying the critical areas of the software application. It is impossible to test everything, so by prioritizing test cases, you can ensure the software’s important functionalities get tested to a high degree. By prioritizing high-risk areas of the software, you can be sure that the testing team’s effort is focused on identifying issues in important areas and that these areas are functioning correctly.

 

Regression Test Selection

In regression testing, it is essential to choose the right tests to eliminate the possibility of errors. By selectively choosing test cases, the testing team can ensure testing is comprehensive yet efficient. The selection process requires proper planning and collaboration between developers and testing teams to create a reliable and repeatable test suite.

 

Affect of Existing Tests on Regression Testing

Existing tests that are already in the test suite can significantly impact regression testing. It is important to analyze the existing tests and ensure they are relevant to the current version of the software. Additionally, it is necessary to analyze all the variable and dependent functions’ swarming impacting the existing tests. This will ensure more efficient and effective regression testing.

 

Regression Testing in Agile Software Development

 

The Importance of Retesting in Agile

Retesting is crucial in Agile Software Development. Since changes are frequently made throughout the development process, continuous testing is essential to ensure that the software functionality remains flawless. Retesting allows the development team to ensure that corrections have taken place, keeping the software bug-free, and functioning optimally.

 

Differences Between Agile Regression Testing and Traditional Regression Testing

In traditional regression testing, testing is done after most parts of software development, while in agile, testing is done continuously throughout the development process. In traditional regression testing, tests are written and executed by testers, while in agile, developers and testers create tests collaboratively. The Agile framework allows for test automation which reduces testing time while maintaining high-quality software.

 

Regression Testing Across Different Agile Methodologies

Agile methodologies have incorporated regression testing into their software development lifecycle. For example, in Scrum, regression testing is done continuously throughout the development process after each sprint. In contrast, extreme programming (XP) performs regression testing after each iteration. Regardless of the Agile framework, regression testing should always be included as part of the development process.

 

Common Challenges and Solutions in Regression Testing

 

Disadvantages of Regression Testing

One of the disadvantages of regression testing is the time it takes to complete. This is especially true in manual testing where regression tests can be time-consuming. To overcome this challenge, automation testing is implemented where repeatable tests can be automated and executed more efficiently.

 

 

Regression Testing Process and Test Suite Maintenance

Maintenance of the regression test suite is also important to ensure the testing process’s success. This includes adding new tests to the suite, modifying existing ones, and removing irrelevant ones. Maintaining the regression testing process helps to minimize the likelihood of regression issues affecting the software and reduce the risk of bugs being introduced to the system.

 

Test Suite Creation for Regression Testing

Creating the regression test suite is another challenge of regression testing. The test suite should be thorough, relevant and created in such a way that it can be easily automated. It should also be easy to understand and maintain. By using testing tools, test suites can be systematically created, and test case scenarios can be uniquely identified and managed.

 

Regression Testing Examples

 

Complete Regression Testing Example

Let’s consider a simple example of complete regression testing. A software company has developed an app allowing users to buy products online. The regression cycle was initiated after the development team added several new features to the latest version of the software. The testing team created a comprehensive test suite, identified and selectively executed high-priority test cases while running a complete regression test. The software’s performance was found to be flawless without any regression issues.

 

Regression Testing Automation Tool Example

A Regression testing automation tool like Selenium can be used to assess new versions of software. By using Selenium, test cases involving the User Interface(UI), along with functionality tests, can be simultaneously executed. By automating regression testing, the software development team saves time and effort, making the testing process more efficient.

 

Regression Testing vs. Functional Testing Example

Functional testing is a type of testing that determines whether the software does what it is intended to do. Regression testing, on the other hand, verifies that a change in one part of the software does not negatively affect other areas of the codebase. For example, if a new feature was added to a software application, functional testing would determine that the feature was working as intended, while regression testing would ensure no unintended bugs or issues are caused by the implementation of the new feature.

 

Conclusion

 

Regression testing is an important part of software development that ensures previously tested functionality is still working as intended after changes and new features have been added. The process can be executed both manually and automated, depending on the worth of testing priority. Effective regression testing requires prioritizing test cases, selecting tests, and ensuring that existing tests do not swarm the existing configurations. By deploying the right testing tools, testing teams can efficiently and rapidly perform regression testing and reduce the likelihood of regression issues affecting software systems.