Regression Testing

Why is regression testing important?

Regression testing is a type of software testing that is used to test for the unintended effects of changes made to the software. In other words, software regression testing ensures that changes made to the software (e.g., bug fixes, new features) do not introduce any new errors or problems.

Typically, regression testing is conducted by manually executing a suite of tests that were previously run against the software and then comparing the results of those tests against the results of new runs of the same tests. If any differences are found, then this indicates that some aspect(s) of the software has changed in a way that has caused it to break (or “regress”) relative to its previous working state.

In order to ensure that their products or services are functioning properly, businesses need to regression test them on a regular basis. By running tests regularly, businesses can catch any issues early on and prevent them from becoming bigger problems down the line.

It can help businesses to improve their overall quality control processes. By identifying and addressing potential problems early on, businesses can save themselves a lot of time and money in the long run.

Also, Mobile app regression testing retests an application to ensure that previously developed and tested features are still functioning correctly after the introduction of new changes or updates, thereby ensuring that the overall functionality of the app remains intact.

Overall, regression testing is an essential part of any quality control process. By catching potential problems early on, businesses can save themselves a lot of time and money in the long run. Additionally, by improving their quality control processes, businesses can ensure that their products or services function properly.

Common types of regression testing in software engineering, as identified by multiple sources, include:

• Corrective regression testing: Reusing existing test cases without modifying the product’s specification to perform expected tests.
• Retest-all regression testing: Re-executing all test cases, including previously passed ones, to detect newly introduced defects.
• Selective regression testing: Selecting a subset of test cases likely to be affected by software changes from the existing test suite.
• Progressive regression testing: Adding new test cases to verify new functionality while ensuring existing functionality remains intact.
• Complete regression testing: Re-executing all test cases, including previously passed ones, to ensure software functions as expected.
• Partial regression testing: Re-executing a subset of test cases, excluding previously passed ones, to verify software functionality.
• Unit regression testing: Testing individual code units to ensure they work correctly and not disrupt existing functionality.

The types of regression testing may vary based on the application’s specific requirements.

What are the steps followed in regression testing?

Regression testing is a process of retesting a system or application after changes have been made to ensure that the changes did not introduce new bugs or cause existing ones to reappear. To properly conduct regression testing, all impacted software must be tested – including code, applications, databases, and interfaces.

There are generally four steps involved in regression testing:

1. Identify what needs to be tested: This includes understanding what has changed and what areas of the system are affected by those changes.

2. Select the appropriate test cases: Test cases should be chosen that exercise the functionality that has been changed.

3. Execute the test cases: The test cases are executed, and the results are compared to the expected outcomes.

4. Analyze the results: Any discrepancies between the actual and expected results need to be investigated. This may involve looking at logs, code, or other data to determine the cause of the problem.

Regression testing is an important part of the software development process, as it helps to ensure that changes made to a system do not break existing functionality or introduce new bugs. By following these four steps, regression testing can be conducted effectively and efficiently.

What are the tools for regression testing?

There are several tools available for regression testing, ranging from those that are bundled with popular software development frameworks to standalone tools. Some of the more popular options include:

1. JUnit: JUnit is a popular unit testing framework for Java, and includes support for regression tests. To use JUnit for regression testing, simply create a new test suite and add your existing tests to it. Then run the suite as part of your automated build process.

2. NUnit: NUnit is the .NET counterpart to JUnit, and works in a similar fashion. Again, simply create a new test suite and add your existing tests to it – then run the suite as part of your automated build process.

3. Selenium: Selenium is a tool for automating web browsers, and can be used for regression testing of web applications. To use Selenium for regression testing, simply record your test cases using theSelenium IDE plugin for Firefox, and then run the tests as part of your automated build process.

4. Rational Functional Tester: Rational Functional Tester is a commercial tool from IBM, designed specifically for regression testing. It can be used to test a wide range of applications, from web applications to desktop applications.

5. QuickTest Professional: QuickTest Professional is a commercial tool from HP, also designed specifically for regression testing. It too can be used to test a wide range of applications.

To choose the right tool for your regression testing, simply consider the type of application you are testing and the features you need.

What to keep in mind while choosing a regression testing company

Here are a few things to keep in mind while choosing a company for regression testing or mobile app regression testing :

• Ensure that the company has extensive experience with the type of testing you need.
• Ask about the company’s methodology and whether they can tailor their approach to meet your specific needs.
• Ensure that the company has a good reputation and is known for providing quality solutions. Get quotes from multiple companies to compare pricing and choose the best option for your needs.
• Ask for a demonstration of their testing tools and how they would use them to test your specific application or website.
• Find out what kind of reporting the company provides and how often they will update you on the progress of your project.