What is Regression Testing?

What is Regression Testing?

Regression testing is one of the most important testing techniques. It helps determine whether a new software build has broken something that was working previously. Test cases in regression testing are derived from test cases captured during the previous release, known as the reference test case suite. The primary objective of regression testing is to identify any change in the performance of an application or system under test (SUT), which indicates a positive or negative impact on its users.

Regression testing is also known as an exhaustive test or recurring test. It aims to make sure that changes made to production code don’t break anything else in the software. It’s therefore also known as red, green, blue and black testing because of its reliance on those four colors for identifying exactly where new code breaks old code. That gives you a nice visual representation of what this type of testing entails. If we take a look at these four principles, it’ll be easier to understand what regression testing actually is:

Green: Verifying the New Code Works as Expected #

The first step of regression testing is verifying that the new code works as expected. This can be done using either a new test case or the reference test case that was created on the previous build. For the new test case, the tester has to make sure that the code is working as expected. He or she can also clone the reference test case and make changes to it so that it can be used to verify the new code. The level of detail and effort applied while validating the new code will depend on the tester’s experience and the project’s risk. The team’s lead will usually decide on the right approach to take, balancing between thorough testing and cost-effectiveness.

Blue: Verifying the Old Code Still Works as Expected #

The second step in regression testing is verifying that the old code still works as expected. This is an essential part of regression testing because while the new code might work as expected, the old code might be broken. This can happen if the team’s lead is unaware of a dependency that some code has. If there are no tests for this part of the code, the team’s lead might break it while adding functionality to new code. Blue regression testing is also used to determine whether new code is working with old code as expected. For example, for a login functionality, the tester might verify that the old code is logging in with the new code.

Red: Verifying That the Change Has Been Made #

The third step in regression testing is verifying that the change has been made. This step is applied when the team’s lead is verifying that the new code works, but with a test case that was created on the previous build. In order to verify that the change has been made, the tester has to change the test case. He or she can also clone the reference test case and make changes to it so that it can be used to verify that the change has been made.

Black: Confirming the Test Scenario is Actually Working #

The last step in regression testing is confirming that the test scenario is working as expected. This can be done either with a new test case or the reference test case that was created on the previous build. If the team’s lead is creating a new test case, he or she should determine the minimum functionality required to pass the test scenario. This way, the test case will be easy to create and understand. The tester can also clone the reference test case and make changes to it so that it can be used to confirm the test scenario working as expected.

Types of Regression Testing #

Ad hoc testing: Ad hoc testing is a type of testing that is performed with little planning or design. It’s used to verify that a product is working correctly after changes have been made to its code or functionality. Ad hoc testing is usually performed by a software tester at the end of the project to ensure that the system is working as expected. It can also be used to cover functionality that was overlooked during the initial testing phase.

Exploratory testing: Exploratory testing is a testing technique where the tester focuses on the design of the product. He or she is looking for defects and mistakes in the system that the users will make. Exploratory testing is a dynamic process in which the tester is continuously learning about the product, creating test cases as he or she goes along.

Regression testing: Regression testing is a type of software testing that is used to determine whether a new software build has broken something that was working previously. It is also used to validate that a system or application still works correctly after new code or functionality has been added.

Advantages of Regression Testing #

Reduction in rework: Since regression testing starts with the reference test case that was created on the previous build, it can be performed quickly and easily. If the team’s lead changes the existing code, it is highly unlikely that they’ll break the new code because they’ll be using the reference test case. This way, they can quickly identify the change they’ve made and focus on fixing it immediately. This significantly reduces the amount of rework that the team’s lead has to do and helps them finish the project faster.

It’s a good investment: In the long run, performing regression testing is a good investment for a team. It helps them identify defects in the system and fix them before the product is released to the public. It also helps them understand possible user errors and rectify them before the users discover them.

Disadvantages of Regression Testing #

Longer testing time: Since regression testing starts with the reference test case that was created on the previous build, it can take longer to perform than normal testing. The team’s lead has to read the previous test case, determine whether the change they made is appropriate, and then make sure the test case works as expected. This can be time-consuming, particularly if the reference test case is extensive. The tester has to read the previous test case as well and make sure the change they made is appropriate and that the test case works.

More effort: Since regression testing is usually performed at the end of the project, it requires more effort from the team’s lead and the software testers. The software testers have to create new test cases and change the reference test cases to make sure the new code works as expected. And the team’s lead has to determine the changes they’ve made, verify that the new code works as expected, and change the reference test cases so the team’s lead can verify that the change has been made.

Conclusion #

Regression testing is one of the most important testing techniques. It helps determine whether a new software build has broken something that was working previously. During regression testing, the team’s lead and software testers create new test cases and change the reference test cases to see if the system is working as expected. This significantly reduces the amount of rework that the team’s lead and software testers have to do and helps them finish the project faster. However, it can also take longer to perform because the team’s lead and software testers have to read the previous test case, determine whether the change they made is appropriate, and make sure the test case works as expected.

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