regressortest

Regressortest, commonly known as regression testing, is a software testing activity that verifies that recent changes have not adversely affected existing functionality. Its primary purpose is to catch unintended side effects caused by bug fixes, new features, refactoring, or configuration changes, ensuring that previously working behavior remains intact.

Regressortest typically involves re-executing a subset or the entire suite of existing test cases. The scope is determined by factors such as the extent of the changes, risk, and available resources. Types of regression testing include:

- Selective regression testing: choosing test cases most likely affected by the changes or covering high-risk areas.

- Partial regression testing: retesting a representative subset to validate critical paths.

- Full regression testing: re-running all tests, usually reserved for major releases or high-risk modifications.

Regressortest suites are usually maintained alongside the product’s test assets. Test cases are added after new features and updated when bugs are fixed or requirements change. Automation is common, especially in modern development practices, because automated regression tests can be run quickly and repeatedly in continuous integration and delivery pipelines. Tools frequently used for regression testing include test automation frameworks and UI or API testing tools, such as Selenium, Cypress, JUnit, TestNG, or pytest, depending on the technology stack.

Benefits of regression testing include early defect detection, greater software stability, and increased confidence in releases. Challenges include maintaining the test suite as the product evolves, balancing thoroughness with time constraints, and mitigating flaky tests. Best practices emphasize risk-based prioritization, regular maintenance of test data, and automation to support frequent re-testing.

See also: software testing, regression testing, test automation, continuous integration.