Regression testing is an essential step in the software development process. Code changes bring continually new features and constantly repair errors. However, these changes may unwittingly interrupt existing functionality. But these problems can be detected by regression testing before they affect users.
What is Regression Testing?
The process of checking previously developed and tested software or components to see if any change has caused something unexpected, is called regression testing. This will help ensure that the functions already in place within software continue to function even after changes are made.
Benefits of Regression Testing
Here are some benefits of regression testing:
- Ensures Existing Functionalities Remain Intact: Regression testing is intended to make sure new code modifications or bug fixes don’t screw up existing functionalities. Also, it ensures that developed and tested features are not broken by changes.
- Improves Customer Satisfaction: Regression testing would prevent new features or bug fixes inadvertently infringing on existing functionality that customers use. But if regressions are introduced and not tested for, it might lead to software failures or bugs when customers use the application. This leads to bad user experience and unhappy customers. By doing thorough regression testing the new bad effects on customers detected, and then corrected.
- Ensures Previously Fixed Issues do not Reoccur: The aim of regression testing is to prevent problems which were already detected and fixed from showing up again due to modifications made in the codebase or system configurations. For these reasons, when new changes are introduced regression tests reaffirm the effectiveness of earlier solutions for problems reported, and prevent such defects from occurring again.
- Maintains Software Quality and Stability: Regression testing ensures the quality and constancy of software applications. Regression testing is done each time a change to the code takes place, such as with new features or bug fixes. The changes must not affect existing functionalities in an adverse manner.
- Aligns with Agile Methodology: So, regression testing is good for the customer. It ensures that problems already fixed do not recur. Thorough regression tests mean that there is much less chance of software cause an outage, or users having a dissatisfactory experience because of some kind of regression issue.
Disadvantages Of Regression Testing
Regression testing is a must, but it has problems. Here are some disadvantages of regression testing:
- Time consuming process: Its requires a lot of time and resources, particularly when done by hand. Especially with complicated systems, running a large number of test cases can increase the amount of time and effort needed.
- Needs ongoing maintenance: As the program develops and new features are introduced, the regression test suite has to be updated and maintained on a regular basis.
- Challenging to obtain full coverage: Regression testing may be difficult to accomplish full test coverage, particularly when changes impact several functionalities or modules.
Conclusion
Understanding what is regression testing is an important step in the quality assurance process, making certain that changes to software have not impaired its functioning. While it’s hard work, regression testing can be very effective if the correct methods and test automation tools are applied. It ensures the stability of the program, both during and after development.
Tech Hub Digital, a one-stop destination for complete technology-related information.