Imagine a scenario: a user places an order through a food delivery app, completes the payment, and sees the deduction from their bank account. However, the app fails to provide an order confirmation. This situation can be incredibly frustrating.
Such loopholes in the testing process highlight the critical role of testing in the software development cycle. To avoid such scenarios, it’s imperative to test your application or website whenever there’s a new change, feature, or update before releasing it to customers. This practice is known as Regression Testing.
Regression testing isn’t merely about re-running previous test cases. It’s about ensuring that recent changes or updates don’t adversely affect existing functionalities, ensuring smooth system flow both now and in the future. To simplify this, various regression testing techniques come into play.
Regression Testing Techniques
1. Complete Regression Testing
This technique involves a comprehensive examination of the entire codebase, encompassing all functionalities associated with the application. It demands meticulous testing and detailed test creation for each function affected by changes.
While highly beneficial, conducting a complete regression test, even for a simple application, is time-consuming. It may not be feasible for complex applications due to constraints related to time and replicating all active connections and integration points to simulate a live server environment.
2. Unit Regression Testing
Unit Regression Testing combines regression and unit testing, evaluating the code from a high-level perspective. It entails isolating and testing individual units or code components to ensure their functionality post-changes/updates.
Testers adhere to a checklist of items to test whenever changes occur. This is typically performed alongside other testing techniques to guarantee the application’s overall functionality.
3. Partial Regression Testing
This approach targets specific, critical units or components of an application rather than testing the entire system. The project is segmented into small, logical units constituting the application.
Testers prioritize units crucial to the application’s overall functionality and stability, designing specific test cases for them. The remaining modules or components may undergo unit testing.
The selection of techniques hinges on the project’s scale and the nature of the changes at hand. Additionally, formulating a regression testing strategy enhances the effectiveness of the process.
Key Steps to Develop an Effective Regression Testing Strategy
In crafting this strategy, you outline objectives, scope, features to be tested, and expected outcomes. It’s contingent on factors such as the frequency of developer-driven changes, the scale of these changes, and which parts of the existing system might be impacted.
1. Automate Regression Tests
Automation is indispensable for efficient regression testing. It eliminates errors inherent in manual testing and expedites the process.
Points to consider while automating tests:
- Categorize regression tests based on the application’s behavior for streamlined identification of failure areas.
- Re-run test cases periodically, even if they’ve previously passed, to ensure continuous correct functionality.
- Dedicate time to analyze test reports thoroughly to catch even minor bugs.
Noteworthy tools for automated regression testing include Selenium, TestNG, Appium, BrowserStack, and Jenkins. These tools enhance efficiency, script creation, and test execution speed. However, 100% automation may not be feasible, as certain tasks require human testers for test case design.
2. Selecting the Right Test Cases
Automation doesn’t grant carte blanche for unlimited testing. Focus on a select set of efficient test cases over a large volume.
Considerations while selecting test cases:
- Keep the regression test suite up-to-date, removing outdated cases.
- Aim for broad test coverage with each case, encompassing features, user scenarios, and workflow elements.
- Prioritize cases focusing on recently changed code or functionality areas.
3. Establish the Regression Test Environment
After designing and selecting test cases, you need an interface for execution. This is the test environment, a close approximation of the actual deployment environment. It involves configuring infrastructure, tools, and data.
Elements comprising a test environment:
- Test data
- Software for testing
- Network configuration
- Testing devices
- Operating system
- Database and testing server
- Test automation frameworks and tools
- Software for system and application interfacing
- Documentation, including test scenarios, user manuals, and requirements
The ideal approach involves using actual device-browser-OS combinations post-software completion. Automation through tools like Jenkins can expedite this process.
4. Defect Management
Managing defects is integral to effective regression testing. It involves identification, categorization, fixing, and analysis.
Identification
- Centralized access to defect information is crucial.
- Real-world testing on actual browsers and devices is essential for accurate results.
Categorization
- Categorize defects based on stages, severity levels, and type.
Fixing
- Assign bugs to respective developers, prioritizing by severity.
- Developers work on fixes, reporting to managers.
Analysis
- Collect error data and corrective actions.
- Share lessons learned with relevant teams.
- Implement defect analysis as a mandatory process.
To prevent regression defects, conduct regular regression testing during release cycles.
5. Leverage Tools and Frameworks
Utilize tools and frameworks to streamline and automate repetitive testing tasks.
Popular tools include Selenium, tsetRigor, and Ranorex Studio. They enhance efficiency, test script creation, and execution pace.
Best Practices for Effective Regression Testing
- Implement a regression framework from project initiation, regularly updating the test suite to reflect application changes.
- Continuously assess user experience and update test cases to focus on widely used functionalities.
- Automate regression tests to reduce time and effort while increasing coverage and accuracy.
- Involve the QA team in code reviews to understand changes and identify areas susceptible to regression issues.
- Collaborate with developers during module creation to plan regression tests effectively.
Incorporating these best practices, along with tools like LambdaTest, can lead to an efficient regression testing strategy, ensuring that code changes don’t have adverse effects.
In conclusion, understanding the purpose and benefits of regression testing is paramount. By employing the right processes, tools, and analysis, a solid regression testing strategy can provide invaluable insights.
