What is Regression Testing? Tools, Examples and Techniques

What Are the Different Types of Regression Testing?

Different types of regression testing exist which cater to varying needs of the software development lifecycle. The choice of regression testing type depends on the scope and impact of changes, allowing testing and development teams to strike a balance between thorough validation and resource efficiency. The following are the types of regression testing.

1.Unit Regression Testing:

• Isolated and focused testing on individual units of the software.

• Validates that changes made to a specific unit do not introduce regressions in its functionality.

• The efficiency of this lies in catching issues within a confined scope without testing the entire system.

  
  
  
  

2. Partial Regression Testing:

• This involves testing a part of the entire application and focusing on modules and functionalities that are affected by recent changes.

• The benefit of partial regression testing is that it saves time and resources especially when the modifications are localised.

• Balances thorough testing with efficiency by targeting relevant areas impacted by recent updates.

  
  
  
  

3. Complete Regression Testing:

• This involves regression testing of the entire application thereby validating all modules and functionalities.

• It is essential when there are widespread changes that impact the software.

• It ensures overall coverage even though it is time-consuming when compared to partial regression testing.

Regression Testing Techniques

Now that we know what the different types of regression testing are, let us focus on the techniques used for the same. Regression testing techniques offer flexibility and adaptability that allow development and testing teams to tailor their approach towards testing based on the nature of changes, project size and resource constraints.

Specific techniques are selected depending on the project’s requirements which, in turn, ensures a balance between validation and efficient use of testing resources. The following are the techniques teams use for regression testing:

1.Regression Test Selection:

• It involves choosing a part of the test cases based on the impacted areas of recent changes.

• Its main focus is on optimising testing efforts by selecting relevant tests for correct validation.

  
  
  
  

2. Test Case Prioritization:

• This means that test cases are ranked based on criticality and likelihood of detecting defects.

• This maximises efficiency as it tests high-priority cases first thereby allowing the early detection of regressions.

  
  
  
  

3. Re-test All:

• This requires that the entire suite of test cases be run after each code modification.

• This can be time-consuming for large projects but is ultimately an accurate means to ensure comprehensive validation.

  
  
  
  

4. Hybrid:

• It combines various regression testing techniques like selective testing and prioritisation to optimise testing efforts.

• It adapts to the specific needs of the project and thus, strikes a balance between thoroughness and efficiency.

  
  
  
  

5. Corrective Regression Testing:

• The focus is on validating the measures applied to resolve the defects that have been identified.

• This verifies that the added remedies do not create new issues or impact existing functionalities negatively.

  
  
  
  

6. Progressive Regression Testing:

• This incorporates progressive testing as changes are made during the development process.

• This allows for continuous validation and thus minimising the likelihood of accumulating regressions.

  
  
  
  

7. Selective Regression Testing:

• Specific test cases are chosen based on the areas affected by recent changes.

• Testing efforts are streamlined by targeting relevant functionalities in projects with limited resources.

  
  
  
  

8. Partial Regression Testing:

• It involves testing only a subset of the entire application.

• This proves it to be efficient in validating localized changes without the need for the entire system to be retested.

  
  
  
  

5 Top Regression Testing Tools in 2024

Regression testing is one of the most critical phases in software development, ensuring that modifications to code do not inadvertently introduce defects. Using advanced tools can not only significantly enhance the efficiency of regression testing processes but also the accuracy of the same.

We have covered both the free and the paid Regression Testing tools. The top 5 best performing Regression Testing Tools to consider for 2024 are:

1. HyperTest

2. Katalon

3. Postman

4. Selenium

5. testRigor

1. HyperTest - Regression Testing Tool:

• HyperTest is a regression testing tool that is designed for modern web applications.

  
  
  
  

• It offers automated testing capabilities, enabling developers and testers to efficiently validate software changes and identify potential regressions.

  
  
  
  

• HyperTest auto-generates integration tests from production traffic, so you don't have to write single test cases to test your service integration. For more on how HyperTest can efficiently take care of your regression testing needs, visit their website here.

  
  

2. Katalon - Regression Testing Tool:

• Katalon is an automation tool that supports both web and mobile applications.

  
  
  
  

• Its simplified interface makes regression testing very easy thereby enabling accessibility for both beginners and experienced testers.

  
  
  
  

Know About - Katalon Alternatives and Competitors

3. Postman - Regression Testing Tool:

• While renowned for Application Programming Interface (API) testing, Postman also facilitates regression testing through its automation capabilities.

  
  

• It allows testers and developers to create and run automated tests, ensuring the stability of APIs and related functionalities.

  
  
  
  

Know About - Postman Vs HyperTest - Which is More Powerful?

4. Selenium - Regression Testing Tool:

• Selenium is a widely used open-source tool for web application testing.

  
  
  
  

• Its support for various programming languages and browsers makes it a go-to choice for regression testing, providing a scalable solution for diverse projects.

5. testRigor - Regression Testing Tool:

• testRigor employs artificial intelligence to automate regression testing.

  
  

• It excels in adapting to changes in the application, providing an intelligent and efficient approach to regression testing.

  
  

Regression Testing With HyperTest

• Imagine a scenario where a crucial financial calculation API, widely used across various services in a fintech application, receives an update.

• This update inadvertently changes the data type expectation for a key input parameter from an integer (int) to a floating-point number (float).

• Such a change, seemingly minor at the implementation level, has far-reaching implications for dependent services that are not designed to handle this new data type expectation.

  
  
  
  

The Breakdown

The API in question is essential for calculating user rewards based on their transaction amounts.

➡️Previously, the API expected transaction amounts to be sent as integers (e.g., 100 for $1.00, considering a simplified scenario where the smallest currency unit is integrated into the amount, avoiding the need for floating-point arithmetic).

➡️However, after the update, it starts expecting these amounts in a floating-point format to accommodate more precise calculations (e.g., 1.00 for $1.00).

➡️Dependent services, unaware of this change, continue to send transaction amounts as integers. The API, now expecting floats, misinterprets these integers, leading to incorrect reward calculations.

➡️ Some services might even fail to call the API successfully due to strict type checking, causing transaction processes to fail, which in turn leads to user frustration and trust issues.

➡️As these errors propagate, the application experiences increased failure rates, ultimately crashing due to the overwhelming number of incorrect data handling exceptions. This not only disrupts the service but also tarnishes the application's reputation due to the apparent unreliability and financial inaccuracies.

The Role of HyperTest in Preventing Regression Bugs

HyperTest, with its advanced regression testing capabilities, is designed to catch such regressions before they manifest as bugs or errors in the production environment, thus preventing potential downtime or crashes. Here's how HyperTest could prevent the scenario from unfolding:

• Automated Regression Testing: HyperTest would automatically run a comprehensive suite of regression tests as soon as the API update is deployed in a testing or staging environment. These tests include verifying the data types of inputs and outputs to ensure they match expected specifications.

  
  
  
  

• Data Type Validation: Specifically, HyperTest would have test cases that validate the type of data the API accepts. When the update changes the expected data type from int to float, HyperTest would flag this as a potential regression issue because the dependent services' test cases would fail, indicating they are sending integers instead of floats.

• Immediate Feedback: Developers receive immediate feedback on the regression issue, highlighting the discrepancy between expected and actual data types. This enables a quick rollback or modification of the dependent services to accommodate the new data type requirement before any changes are deployed to production.

  
  
  
  

• Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD) Integration: Integrated into the CI/CD pipeline, HyperTest ensures that this validation happens automatically with every build. This integration means that no update goes into production without passing all regression tests, including those for data type compatibility.

  
  
  
  

• Comprehensive Coverage: HyperTest provides comprehensive test coverage, ensuring that all aspects of the API and dependent services are tested, including data types, response codes, and business logic. This thorough approach catches issues that might not be immediately obvious, such as the downstream effects of a minor data type change.

  
  
  
  

By leveraging HyperTest's capabilities, the fintech application avoids the cascading failures that could lead to a crash and reputational damage. Instead of reacting to issues post-deployment, the development team proactively addresses potential problems, ensuring that updates enhance the application without introducing new risks. HyperTest thus plays a crucial role in maintaining software quality, reliability, and user trust, proving that effective regression testing is indispensable in modern software development workflows.

💡 Schedule a demo here to learn about this approach better

Conclusion

We now know how important regression testing is to software development and the stability required for applications during modifications. The various tools employed ensure that software is constantly being tested to detect unintended side effects thus safeguarding against existing functionalities being compromised. The examples of regression testing scenarios highlight why regression testing is so important and at the same time, versatile!

Embracing these practices and tools contributes to the overall success of the development lifecycle, ensuring the delivery of high-quality and resilient software products. If teams can follow best practices the correct way, there is no stopping what regression testing can achieve for the industry.

Please do visit HyperTest to learn more about the same.