In the era of rapid digital transformation, where software updates are constant and expected to be seamless, the importance of regression testing cannot be overstated.
However, while regression testing is an important part of testing, it is also one of the most time-consuming and error-prone.
In this guide, we take you through the ABCs of regression testing. From what it is and is not, the power of test automation – when done right – and the impact it can have on overall speed and quality, and the tools for regression testing that you can follow to alleviate the regression testing burden and enhance quality. This will help you and your QA team ensure high test coverage with every release, no matter how frequent.
Skip ahead to:
- What is regression testing?
- Why should you do regression testing?
- How frequently should you run your regression tests?
- What is the difference between retesting and regression testing?
- How to prioritize and select regression tests
- Manual vs automated regression testing
- How to do regression testing manually
- How to do automated regression testing: best practices
- The benefits of automated regression testing
- How to choose regression testing tools: the main criteria
- Best regression testing tools: Top 8 list
What is regression testing?
The verb regress (from regression testing) means to return to a former state or condition. Regression testing is a vital component in the testing lifecycle, whether you are checking simple web application functionality or complex, end-to-end business workflows. It safeguards your applications and processes against bugs as they evolve over time. This is because every software update requires testing to ensure that things do not break.<
Simply put, there are two sides of testing:
- Testing new features
- Testing existing functionality
Regression testing focuses on the latter. It is the process of testing existing functionality when new code alterations are made. Every now and then, however, updates can go wrong and cause disruptions to the user experience.
Regression testing ensures that the new modifications work as intended and that previous functionality remains intact and bug-free. These tests are usually performed frequently and consistently, acting as a safety net to quickly identify and rectify regressions before they affect production.
Watch this snippet from our Regression Testing Webinar to hear how our experts explain it in simple terms:
