Exploring the Fundamentals of Regression Testing: Definitions and Insights

Regression testing is an essential aspect of software quality assurance, crucial not only during the development phase but also throughout its maintenance. Reportedly, this type of testing, when performed with robust tools such as the EA regression testing suite, helps detect between 30% and 50% of all bugs in applications.
So, why is regression testing so important, and what do you need to know about it? This article has all the answers.

Regression testing and its benefits

Regression testing is the practice of assessing the impact of code changes on software behavior. Typically, it verifies the consequences of recent code modifications, as an application should not be deployed before regression testing is conducted. Any code modifications can potentially disrupt the performance of an application, and regression testing helps ensure the correctness of the software before it reaches users.

The code changes requiring regression testing can be of various types, including bug fixes, new features, and optimizations.

Regression testing offers several advantages for both application development and maintenance. Some of these benefits include:

• Early defect detection;
• Effective risk mitigation;
• Maintenance of software quality;
• Enhanced user satisfaction;
• Financial savings;

Types of regression testing

Regression testing can validate the correctness of various processes in applications after changes. Here are some types of tests that can be performed during regression testing:

• Unit tests focused on individual components or units of software;
• Functional tests that help ensure that all features and functionalities meet the software requirements and specifications after code changes;
• Integration tests performed to verify the correctness of interactions between integrated components or modules in an application;
• System tests focused on the behavior of the entire system;
• Performance tests that help assess the responsiveness and scalability of the software;
• Security tests aiming to identify vulnerabilities that might be introduced by code changes.

Regression testing strategies

Depending on the scale of an application, regression testing may require significant resources to assess every possible component and aspect of software performance. In many scenarios, achieving complete coverage, which is the goal of the Retest All regression testing approach, is impractical. Therefore, many companies prioritize certain areas for testing over others using selective regression testing.

Below are some of the most popular strategies used for prioritizing test cases:

• Code change coverage focuses on areas of the software that have recently been modified;
• Risk-based testing that prioritizes areas responsible for the most critical software functionality and security;
• Business priority testing, while similar to risk-based testing, prioritizes functionality crucial for business processes;
• User-centric prioritization that starts from testing functionality essential for users;
• Impact analysis-based testing that helps identify areas most vulnerable to potential risks from code modifications.

Approaches to regression testing

While initially, regression testing was performed manually, it is common for companies to opt for automated regression testing. Manual testing relies entirely on the human execution of test cases, whereas automated testing performs this step without human supervision. Moreover, depending on the test automation tool, companies can also benefit from other automated functionalities, including test report generation and analysis, as well as notifications about test failures.

Both approaches have their pros and cons. Manual regression testing allows testers to use human judgment and exploration to address various testing problems more flexibly. However, this approach is resource-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to errors. On the other hand, test automation requires initial investment and regular maintenance but does not support tests that require human judgment and creativity. Nevertheless, it is more cost-effective than manual testing and offers greater consistency.

Although the manual approach still adds value to the regression testing process, automation is becoming increasingly prevalent. Performing thorough manual regression testing for modern complex, and continually updated applications is virtually impossible.

Tools for automated regression testing

Automated regression testing relies on test automation tools, which come in various forms. For example, products like the EA regression testing tool for Microsoft Dynamics 365 are designed to be particularly user-friendly and help achieve ROI faster. They may feature a no-code interface that significantly speeds up test case creation, which is often the most time-consuming part of automated regression testing. Such software also democratizes testing, making it accessible to users without deep technical knowledge.

However, there is also a wide range of tools that require strong coding skills and technical knowledge for test script creation, maintenance, and testing environment setup.

Meanwhile, regression testing tools vary in their automation capabilities, ranging from automating test execution to test reporting, defect logging, tracking, and many other aspects of testing. These tools also differ in the types of regression testing they support and the software they can test.

Leveraging automation – EA regression testing

With the ability to detect a significant percentage of application bugs, regression testing not only ensures software correctness and stability but also contributes to early defect detection, risk mitigation, and overall enhancement of software quality and user satisfaction. Automated regression testing is particularly crucial for large and complex software products like ERP and CRM suites. Advanced no-code applications, such as the EA regression testing tool, can significantly simplify the testing process.