Hey Ninjas! Do you know the terms "re-testing" and "regression testing" as they relate to software testing? Have you ever wondered how the two compare to one another? Although these terms may sound similar, they refer to different testing procedures with other objectives. You can better understand how each can help your Software Testing strategy by examining the difference between re-testing and regression testing.
We will discuss the difference between retesting and regression testing in this article and how each is applied to software testing to raise the general standard of the application. Let's start now!
What is Re-Testing?
Before moving to the difference between retesting and regression testing, let's first understand retesting.
Re-testing is rerunning a test to determine whether the issues and flaws identified during the initial test cycle have been fixed. Re-testing confirms that issues and faults have been resolved and the software performs as intended. Re-testing is typically carried out after the bugs have been set and before the software is put into production. Re-testing may be automated or manual, depending on the test cases and the complexity of the software.
Following are the pros of Re-testing:
It helps ensure that flaws and mistakes have been appropriately identified and fixed.
Catches any problems that were overlooked during initial testing, which raises the quality of the software.
Reduces the likelihood of bugs, crashes, and other problems that might impair usability, which raises user satisfaction.
It lessens the need for costly maintenance and repairs after the software is released.
Can offer feedback on how well the development and testing processes worked, helping pinpoint improvement areas.
Re-testing has the following drawbacks:
It can be expensive and time-consuming, mainly if done manually.
Additional resources, such as hardware and personnel, may be needed to perform re-testing effectively.
May find additional problems or flaws, which would cause more delays and rework.
It can interfere with the release cycle and development schedule.
If the same tests are run repeatedly with no software modifications, they might become redundant.
What is Regression Testing?
Before moving to the difference between retesting and regression testing, let's first understand regression testing.
Regression Testing is a type of software testing performed after changes have been made to the software to ensure that the existing functionality has not been affected. Regression of previous test cases on the modified software is required to ensure that any changes have introduced no new bugs or problems. Regression testing is essential for ensuring that the software maintains its necessary level of quality and continues to operate as intended.
Following are the pros of Regression Testing:
It helps ensure that software modifications do not adversely affect already-existing functionality.
It helps detect early defects, lowering the overall defect repair cost.
Improves the quality of the software by correcting issues introduced during development or maintenance.
Decreases the possibility of regressions, resulting in costly and unforeseen failures.
It helps to keep end users' trust in the software by ensuring its continued dependability.
Regression testing has the following drawbacks:
It can be time-consuming and costly, especially for larger software projects with multiple test cases.
It can be repetitive and redundant, leading to boredom and reduced accuracy in manual testing.
It can be disrupted by changes to the testing environment or infrastructure, making it more difficult to isolate issues.
This may result in false positives or negatives, wasting time and effort identifying and addressing issues.
It may not cover all defects or issues, as the focus is primarily on ensuring that previously working functionality has not been negatively impacted.
Comparison Table between Re-Testing and Regression Testing
Here is a table that shows the difference between retesting and regression testing.
Comparison Point
Re-testing
Regression Testing
Purpose
Check to see if a bug fix has fixed the problem.
Check to see if any modifications have affected current functionality.
Execution
Usually, they are run after a bug has been fixed.
Executed after the software has changed.
Scope
Concentrates on particular test cases or scenarios related to the bug.
Focuses on all test cases and potential change scenarios.
Benefits
It helps to confirm that specific bugs have been fixed.
It makes sure the software keeps up the necessary level of quality.
Drawbacks
Are limited in scope and may need to find additional software-related problems.
It can be expensive and time-consuming, especially for more complex software projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can the efficacy of repeat testing be assessed?
By comparing the proportion of defects found in the re-test to the total number of defects discovered during the initial testing phase, you can evaluate the effectiveness of re-testing. To see any underlying problems that must be resolved to stop future faults, performing root-cause analysis on the flaws discovered in the re-test can be helpful.
When should re-testing be done?
To confirm that the specific bug or issue has been fixed, re-testing should be done after changes have been made to the software and the changes have been implemented and tested.
What are some common approaches to regression testing?
Utilising automated testing tools, ranking test cases, and conducting selective regression testing are typical approaches to regression testing.
How can you effectively manage test suites for regression testing?
Prioritising test cases according to their significance and choosing a subset of the high-priority tests to run regularly are two effective ways to manage test suites for regression testing. Regression testing can be effectively managed by keeping test suites current and organised and maintaining good documentation.
Conclusion
Re-testing and regression testing are two essential testing techniques that help make sure the software satisfies the necessary quality standards. Re-testing and regression testing differ significantly in their scope and focus.
In conclusion, software developers must thoroughly understand regression testing and re-testing to guarantee the dependability and quality of their software applications.
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