Regression testing is a crucial process in any software development life cycle. By definition, regression testing is “a type of software testing that seeks to uncover new defects in existing functionality after changes have been made to the software.”
In other words, it helps ensure that old bugs haven’t resurfaced and that new code changes haven’t broken existing functionality. But when should regression testing be performed? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t so black and white. It depends on a multitude of factors, such as the size of the codebase, the frequency of releases, and more.
In this blog post, we will explore when regression testing should be performed in detail. We will also touch on some key considerations to keep in mind when making the decision.
What is Regression testing?
Regression testing is a type of software testing that verifies that software which was previously working as expected still works after a change has been made. A change can be anything from a small code change to an entire new feature being added. This type of testing is important because it helps ensure that changes made to software do not break existing functionality.
There are many different ways to perform regression testing, but one common method is to create test cases that exercise the functionality that is being changed. These test cases can be run manually or automatically. Once the test cases have been run, the results can be compared to the expected results to verify that the software is still working correctly.
When software is changed, regression testing should be carried out. This includes changes made by developers, as well as changes made by outside sources such as users and customers. By performing regression testing early and often, it is possible to catch errors before they become major problems.
When to perform regression testing?
There is no single answer to the question of when regression testing should be performed. It depends on a variety of factors, including the nature of the changes made to the software, the type of software being tested, and the resources available for testing. In general, however, regression testing should be performed whenever there are significant changes to the software or its environment.
Changes that may require regression testing include new features or functionality, changes to existing features or functionality, changes to the hardware or software environment, and changes to the way in which the software is used. Regression testing can be time-consuming and expensive, so it is important to consider whether the benefits of performing regression testing outweigh the costs.
Why Regression Testing is Required?
There are many different types of independent software testing services, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Regression testing is a type of software testing that looks at how a system behaves after changes have been made to it. This can be useful for finding bugs that may have been introduced by the changes, or for verifying that the changes haven’t adversely affected the system’s behaviour.
There are several reasons why regression testing may be required:
1) To ensure that changes haven’t introduced new bugs: When code is changed, there is always a risk that new bugs may be introduced. By regression testing after changes are made, we can catch these new bugs before the software is released to users.
2) To ensure that changes haven’t broken existing functionality: Changes to code can sometimes break existing functionality without introducing any new bugs. For example, a change might make a feature work correctly in one browser but not in another. Regression testing can help catch these kinds of issues.
3) To verify that performance hasn’t degraded: Changes to code can sometimes impact performance, either positively or negatively. Regression testing can help identify any potential performance degradation so that it can be addressed before the software is released to users.
4) To ensure compatibility with other software: If the software being tested integrates with other software, it’s important to verify that the integration still works as expected after changes are made. Regression testing can help uncover any compatibility issues.
How to perform software regression testing
Software regression testing is a type of testing that is done to verify that a software program still works after it has been changed or upgraded. This type of testing is important because it helps to ensure that the changes made to the software program do not cause any new bugs or problems.
There are many different ways to perform software regression testing, but the most common method is to use a test suite. A test suite is a collection of test cases that are designed to exercise the functionality of the software program. The test suite can be run manually or automatically, and it should be run on a regular basis to ensure that the software program continues to work as expected.
Another way to perform software regression testing is by using a code coverage tool. Code coverage tools help to identify which parts of the code have been executed during testing and which parts have not been reached. This information can be used to determine which tests need to be run in order to achieve full coverage.
In general, software regression testing should be performed whenever there are changes made to the codebase or whenever new features are added. By running regression tests, you can catch bugs early and prevent them from causing major problems later on.
Bottom line
Regression testing should be performed whenever a change is made to the codebase that could potentially affect the functionality of the software. This could be a new feature, bug fix, or even just a change in the way the code is organised.
Ideally, regression tests should be run automatically every time a change is made and pushed to the main codebase. This way, you can catch any potential problems early on and avoid having to rework code later down the line.
Of course, not all changes will require regression testing. If you’re confident that a change won’t affect any existing functionality, then it’s probably safe to skip the tests. But if there’s any doubt, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and run the tests anyway.
Author BIO
Ankur Chauhan works as Senior Test Engineer in Devstringx Technologies, offer top regression testing services in India. He has 05+ years of experience in manual & automation software testing. He has worked on various projects with different domains like Health, Data monitoring, etc. He believes in sharing his knowledge through his blog.