Software development is a continuous process that involves multiple stages, including design, development, testing, and deployment. Testing is a crucial aspect of software development that helps in detecting defects, bugs, or errors in the software product. Regression testing is a type of testing that ensures that changes made to the software do not affect the existing functionalities. In this blog post, we will discuss what regression testing is, its importance, how to perform regression testing, its challenges, and its practical application in software development.
What is regression testing of software?
Regression testing is a type of software testing that ensures that changes made to the software do not affect the existing functionalities. It involves re-executing the test cases that were previously executed to check if the changes made to the software have introduced any new defects or have caused any previously fixed defects to reappear.
When to apply regression testing
Regression testing should be applied in the following scenarios:
- When there is a change in the software code or design
- When new functionalities are added to the software
- When the software is integrated with other systems or platforms
- When there is a change in the operating environment, such as the hardware, software, or network configuration.
Why is regression testing important?
Regression testing is important because it helps in ensuring that the changes made to the software do not affect the existing functionalities. It helps in identifying any defects or bugs that might have been introduced due to the changes made to the software. It also helps in improving the quality of the software by ensuring that the software meets the desired quality standards.
How to perform regression testing of software
The following are the steps involved in performing regression testing of software:
- Detect Changes in the Source Code :The first step in performing regression testing is to detect the changes made to the software code. This can be done by reviewing the change logs, comparing the new and old versions of the code, or using software tools that can identify the changes automatically.
- Prioritize Those Changes and Product Requirements: The next step is to prioritize the changes based on their impact on the software product requirements. This helps in identifying the critical areas that need to be tested thoroughly.
- Determine Entry Point and Entry Criteria : The entry point and entry criteria are determined based on the prioritized changes. This helps in identifying the test cases that need to be executed first and the conditions that need to be met before starting the testing.
- Determine Exit Point : The exit point is determined based on the completion of the regression testing. This helps in identifying the completion criteria and the criteria for exiting the testing.
- Schedule Tests : The tests are scheduled based on the entry and exit criteria. This helps in ensuring that the testing is performed in a timely and efficient manner.
Tools for Regression Testing and its features
There are several tools available for regression testing, such as Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, and so on. These tools provide features such as test automation, test management, reporting, and tracking. They help in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of it by reducing the manual effort required and providing real-time feedback.
Regression Testing and Configuration Management
Configuration management is the process of managing changes to the software product and its related artifacts. It is an integral part of configuration management because it helps in ensuring that the changes made to the software do not affect the existing functionalities. It also helps in identifying any defects or bugs that might have been introduced due to the changes made to the software.
Difference between Re-Testing and Regression Testing
Re-testing and regression testing are two different types of testing. Re-testing is the process of re-executing the failed test cases to ensure that the defects have been fixed. It is usually done after the defects have been fixed, and it helps in ensuring that the defects have been resolved.
on the other hand, is the process of re-executing the test cases that were previously executed to check if the changes made to the software have introduced any new defects or have caused any previously fixed defects to reappear. It is done to ensure that the existing functionalities have not been affected by the changes made to the software.
The main difference between re-testing and regression testing is that re-testing is focused on the failed test cases, while regression testing is focused on the previously executed test cases.
Challenges in Testing
Regression testing can be challenging due to the following reasons:
- Large test suite: As the software grows, the test suite also grows, making it difficult to execute all the test cases in a reasonable amount of time.
- Time constraints: It requires a significant amount of time to execute, which can be a challenge in fast-paced development environments.
- Resource constraints: It requires significant resources, including hardware, software, and personnel, which can be a challenge for organizations with limited resources.
- Test environment: It requires a stable and reliable test environment, which can be a challenge if the environment is constantly changing.
Practical Application of Testing Examples
Regression testing can be applied in various scenarios, including:
- Web application: When a new version of a web application is released, regression testing can be performed to ensure that the existing functionalities have not been affected.
- Mobile application: When a new version of a mobile application is released, it can be performed to ensure that the existing functionalities have not been affected.
- Embedded system: When changes are made to the firmware or software of an embedded system, it can be performed to ensure that the existing functionalities have not been affected.
Software regression testing techniques
There are three main software regression testing techniques, including:
- Complete Regression (H3 Tag) Complete regression involves re-executing all the test cases that were previously executed. It is time-consuming and resource-intensive but provides complete test coverage.
- Regression Test Selection (H3 Tag) Regression test selection involves selecting a subset of test cases from the test suite based on their relevance to the changes made to the software.
- Test Case Prioritization (H3 Tag) Test case prioritization involves prioritizing the test cases based on their importance and executing them in the order of priority.
Regression Testing in Agile
In Agile software development,It is an ongoing process that is performed continuously throughout the development cycle. It is an integral part of the sprint and helps in ensuring that the changes made to the software do not affect the existing functionalities.
Conclusion
It is an essential aspect of software testing that helps in ensuring that the changes made to the software do not affect the existing functionalities. It is a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, but it is necessary to ensure the quality of the software product. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, organizations can perform it efficiently and effectively, ensuring that their software products meet the desired quality standards.
Get industry-leading software testing courses from eLearningsolutions Testing. Our expert-led courses provide hands-on experience and the latest techniques to help you master software testing. Enroll now and take the first step towards becoming a successful software tester.