What are the types of Regression testing and what are the steps to perform it?

In software development, it isn’t so easy to assume every change made to the application is working fine without affecting the already existing features or functionalities. Also, there are several possibilities for these newly added features to affect the performance and user experience. 

And, to ensure the already existed features are working fine and the new features are bug-free, teams have to perform an extensive regression testing practice. Regression testing is an essential practice in the software development lifecycle (SDLC) to achieve several benefits, thus, teams have to perform it in a very effective manner.

To meet the growing customer demand and business competition, enterprises are building powerful applications and even introducing several features to enhance the application for end-users. But, to ensure these changes are not affecting the already existing features, it is essential for the teams to practice regression testing.

Regression testing is one of the very important software testing practice that functions as a verification method. In this method, test cases are re-executed to validate whether the already existing features are working fine and the newly made changes are bug-free. 

Also, by practicing regression testing, enterprises can achieve several benefits such as increase application’s efficiency, enhance the test coverage, identifying bugs at the earliest, etc. Thus, to ensure it is performed with the best testing methods, enterprises have to understand every regression testing technique and its step-by-step testing process.

What are the different types of regression testing?

Regression testing can be performed in various ways, and choosing the right testing method depends on the software project and the changes that are introduced to the software. Here are the 7 different types of regression testing:

Selective Regression Testing: This regression testing type is practiced to validate the impact of the latest changes that are added to the already existing application’s code.

Corrective Regression Testing: Corrective regression testing is practiced when there are no changes made to the product’s specification. And, in this method, the already existing test cases are used for conducting the desired tests.

Retest-all Regression Testing: This is considered to be a very time-taking process, as it involves testing all the aspects of the product and reusing all the test cases even when there is no change made.

Complete Regression Testing: This is one of the very important testing practice that is performed when there are multiple changes made to already existing code. Also, once this testing is finished, teams achieve the final application for the end-users.

Progressive Regression Testing: This progressive regression testing is performed when there are certain modifications made to the product’s specification or when there are new test cases designed.

Unit Regression Testing: In this unit regression testing, code units are focused and tested in isolation.

Partial Regression Testing: This regression testing type helps in ensuring the software is functioning well after adding new changes to it.

What are the steps to perform Regression Testing?

Enterprises are effectively planning for developing dynamic software for end-users. And, to make this delivered, there are constant upgrades made to the software. To ensure these changes are not affecting the existing features, there should be an effective regression testing practice.

Identify the Regression Tests

Select the best regression testing tool to automate the identified test cases

Validate the checkpoints

Whenever required, plan to update or manage the regression tests

Then, schedule for performing regression tests

Further, plan for integrating with the builds

Then, analyze the reports achieved after performing regression testing

Conclusion:

For every enterprise whether small or big, the plan to introduce new features or make changes to the application is very common. Because this effectively helps the teams to understand, meet the growing needs and improve the Return on Investment (ROI). So, it becomes crucial to ensure these new changes are not influencing the existing features and the added features are free from bugs or defects. Thus, enterprises have to perform regression testing with the best test plans. Leverage Regression testing services from next-gen testing services provider for achieving better ROI.

About the Author:

I am a technical content writer, interested in writing articles on the latest IT related topics. In this article, I have tried to share my thoughts on regression testing, its various testing methods, and the step-by-step process to practice regression testing.