Regression Testing Best Practices for Every Stage of Your QA Process

You’re probably using regression testing wrong.

If we ask you, “What is regression testing?” you’re likely to remember the standard definitions:

• Regression testing ensures that code changes don’t affect existing functionalities.
• It confirms that the software works as expected after updates, fixes, or upgrades.

While these two points are integral to the regression testing process, they’re only a few grains of sand on the beach of regression testing values.

The overarching goal of regression is to check everything that was done. This includes assessing your QA strategy, automation regression testing approach, team effectiveness, and more. So, let’s discuss what regression testing really is and how you can get the most out of it.

Regression Testing’s Many Values

Generally, we use the QA regression testing process to see if software changes had any effect on the app. When you alter code, add a new feature, or roll out an update, you need to see how it all works. This includes checking if such modifications indeed function and don’t break anything already present.

But regression testing can tell you a lot about how you use quality assurance.

• QA focus. If regression issues keep cropping up, it might mean the QA team is overly focused on individual features rather than the overall system’s health.
• Testing process. Consistent regression failures that slip through earlier testing phases (unit and integration) suggest a need to strengthen those steps.
• Team collaboration. A high number of regression issues could indicate problems with the development workflow, test documentation, or communication.
• Automation effectiveness. Regression test automation issues like instability or slowness highlight the need for better automation strategies.
• Code quality. Repeated regression failures in specific code areas suggest potential code quality problems that require attention.
• Test coverage. If new bugs appear in supposedly covered areas, the existing test suite might need expansion or improvement.

As you can see, regression testing isn’t a one-use tool. It’s a Swiss army knife. But we don’t like to focus on what could have been done post-factum. It’s a losing approach. QA Madness believes in proactivity. That’s why, from here, we’ll focus on regression testing best practices that’ll help you augment its values.

Regression Testing Best Practices: Test Case Selection and Prioritization

Best practices in regression testing begin right after you decide to develop a QA strategy. You should organize regression testing as a part of it, not when you get to the “regression stage” of your testing.

Have a Clear Strategy

Even regression testing in agile projects, where everything moves around quickly, needs a plan. Documenting your approach helps everyone understand which tests are crucial, how they’ll be selected, and how they’ll be managed. In other words, these records will be your blueprint toward desired results.

They’ll help you keep track of everything going on. Plus, you can use documentation to pinpoint the moment something went wrong (in case it does).

Focus on Core Features

You don’t have to run regression testing for everything. It’s impractical. Prioritize checking your app’s core functions and user journeys to secure the essentials. Later, you can branch out the tests if needed.

Prioritize High-Risk Areas

If there’s something extra clunky in your software, test it first. Naturally, you’d want to start with simpler stuff. But in that case, you’d doom your regression testing process flow to find minor issues, skipping bigger problems.

Identify areas prone to troubles, like complex features or those that change frequently. Always dedicate testing effort first to where it matters most. You’ll have the chance to fix smaller defects later. But if you miss a big one, your app might just be done for.

Know What to Retest

Try out test impact analysis (TIA). It’ll help you determine which test cases need to be re-executed after code changes. Here’s a brief overview of TIA tools work:

1. The system analyzes altered code to identify affected areas.
2. It maps the changed code to relevant test cases.
3. It prioritizes the identified test cases based on factors like risk, coverage, and dependency.

TIA software, of course, needs specialists who are proficient in their use. So, for this, you’ll need to hire QA engineers skilled in code analysis, test case design and management, and automation tools.

Track Your Test Cases

Version control helps you see who made what changes and when and revert to previous versions if needed. Yes, it’s also one of the top best practices for regression testing. With version control, you can isolate the cause of the problem as you can see what modification brought in an issue. It also supports collaboration among team members, as everyone can access the most up-to-date test cases and see the history of alterations.

Combine Scripted and Exploratory Testing

Scripted test cases are the backbone of any regression testing approach. But they have one major flaw – they don’t go beyond the predefined criteria. And, as you know, thinking outside the box can make your product a gem among so many similar pebbles.

That’s why we recommend including exploration in your process of regression testing. Exploratory testing allows QA experts to use their creativity and intuition to roam around the system, identifying missed or overlooked issues. Basically, this technique adds another layer of quality to your product. And combining it with scripted tests gives you a more complete picture of your app.

Do note that exploratory tests can’t be automated. They might take extra time and resources. So, before you decide to use them, research the pros and cons of your project, stock up on manual regression testing best practices, and find QA specialists who can actually make it work for you.

Automated Regression Testing Best Practices

All projects start with manual regression testing. It lets them establish a baseline and stabilize the testing process. But as soon as the app reaches a minimal level of functional tranquility, it jumps to automated testing (AT). It’s a very common thing, as everyone rushes after the benefits of automation.

Yet, what often makes AT a waste of money instead of a productivity boost is those same rushed decisions. To avoid that, let’s check out these automated regression testing best practices.

Automate Wherever Possible, but Wisely

Automation is the “top dog” in agile regression testing best practices due to the development pace. “AT equals speed” is like a mantra at this point. But you need to be careful with what you automate. AT can be a blessing. Yet, when its implementation isn’t thought out, it can be a genuine curse.

So, focus on automating test cases that:

• Have clear pass/fail criteria.
• Are stable and frequently executed.
• Cover critical features.
• Relate to cross-browser and cross-platform checks.
• Handle high-risk areas.
• Are repetitive and time-consuming.
• Are challenging to perform manually.

Try to add automation to your software regression testing best practices rather quickly. You don’t want your QA team or a crew offering regression testing services to get stuck with running these checks when they could be doing something more valuable. But do be careful with clinging to automation for the sake of automation. Use it when and where it actually makes a difference.

Use Parallel Testing

Parallel testing is likely to become your best friend. Instead of waiting for one test to finish to run another, you can execute multiple checks at once. This approach is especially beneficial in large projects where regression testing can involve hundreds or thousands of cases.

Now, parallel testing does mean distributing the workload across multiple environments or machines. So, yes, you’ll need additional resources, like hardware, software, and network infrastructure. You should keep this in mind before deciding how to organize parallel execution.

Integrate Automation into CI/CD

If you integrate regression testing into your CI/CD pipeline, you’ll get the results much faster. Plus, you’ll have to worry about it less. Here’s a brief explanation of how regression works within CI/CD to give you a better idea as to why it’s so beneficial.

#1 Continuous integration:

• Developers frequently merge their code changes into a shared repository.
• CI tools automatically build the code and run unit tests.

#2 Regression testing trigger:

• Upon a successful build, regression test suites are triggered to execute.
• These tests verify that the new code hasn’t introduced defects in previously working features.

#3 Test execution:

• Automated test scripts are executed against the built application.
• Test results are generated and compared to expected outcomes.

#4 Feedback loop:

• If tests fail, the CI/CD pipeline is halted, and the development team is notified.
• If tests pass, the build proceeds to the next stage (deployment, for example).

Briefly, regression testing will be sort of running in the background, immediately alerting you to any problems. So, you’ll always be able to keep it in check but won’t have to monitor it every second.

Now, a piece of advice instead of best practice. Our team has worked on many projects offering automated software testing services. And something we recommend before automating regression testing is to assemble a team that views AT not as a separate entity but in the context of your product.

Automation has to work for you, not the other way around. So, a tailored AT strategy and a you-specific approach are a must. Otherwise, you’ll end up with automation that dangles from your SDLC while doing the bare minimum.

Regression Testing Best Practices: Test Data and Environment

Before executing regression testing, you ought to prepare an environment in which it can flourish. Here’s what it involves.

Generate Realistic Test Data

To test your software effectively, use test data that mimics real-world usage. This involves considering diverse:

• User inputs.
• Edge cases.
• Possible data variations.

Using authentic, quality data will help test your app in a targeted manner. You can also try out tools that generate synthetic or anonymize production data to simplify this process.

Organize Test Data

Once the test data is generated, keep it tidy. Well-structured test data makes it easier to access, retrieve, and reuse during testing cycles. For this, you can:

• Establish a naming convention.
• Categorize data by scenarios or test cases.
• Use data management tools.

Organized info is a pleasure to work with. It’ll speed up testing and increase your team’s productivity.

Maintain Consistent Test Data

Test data should be relevant, accurate, and up-to-date, reflecting the current state of your app. Strive to regularly review and update it to ensure it aligns with any project changes. Also, avoid duplication and ensure that the same data is used across different test cases.

Isolate Test Environments

Each phase of testing, from development to production, should have its own environment. This separation prevents issues such as data contamination, conflicting configurations, or unintended interactions between tests. So, isolate your environments for more controlled testing conditions. You can try virtualization or containerization to create and manage these environments efficiently.

Regression Testing Best Practices: Test Execution and Reporting

Regression testing organization isn’t the only aspect where best practices apply. Test execution and reporting, for example, may sometimes be omitted. We might think: “What’s to improve here? You just run the tests and look at the results.” Let’s take a look at why this sentiment is false.

Execute Test Cases Systematically

All test cases should be designed to cover specific functionalities. And their execution should follow a clear plan. During each sprint, ensure that all relevant test cases are run, particularly those that target areas affected by recent changes. Prioritize high-risk areas, but don’t neglect lower-risk sections. You need to aim for comprehensive coverage, not an all-encompassing or restricted one.

Generate Detailed Test Reports

Your test case reports should include clear descriptions of what was tested, what the outcomes were, and any issues found. Including visuals, such as screenshots, graphs, or charts, can make the reports more informative and easier to understand. Well-crafted reports provide valuable insights for both the testing team and other stakeholders. This info will help everyone understand the app’s current state and relevant risks.

Track and Analyze Test Results

Beyond just reporting, it’s important to track and analyze test results over time. Look for patterns, such as recurring issues in a particular area of the application, that might indicate deeper problems. This analysis can inform future testing strategies and help prioritize areas that need more attention.

Regression Testing Best Practices: Test Maintenance

Stagnant regression testing is likely to turn useless very quickly. And if you don’t upkeep it, all the work done before will become obsolete, meaning that you have put significant effort into something that’s now pointless. Thus, you should maintain your regression tests to keep them productive.

Review and Update Regularly

As your application evolves, so do its requirements and features. Your test cases must keep pace with the changes to remain relevant. Regularly revisiting your tests ensures they are aligned with the current system requirements, helping you catch any new issues.

Remove Obsolete Test Cases

As your application changes, some test cases may no longer be relevant. Obsolete tests can clutter your test suite, making it harder to manage and increasing the execution time. Aim to systematically eliminate irrelevant checks to streamline your testing efforts.

Refactor Test Code

Over time, test scripts can become complex and difficult to manage. For example, with every new regression test, your test suite grows. And with every update to the cases, they turn more intricate.

To keep your regression neat and functional, you should regularly refactor your test code. This might involve simplifying complex test logic, breaking down large test scripts into manageable pieces, or improving the organization of your test suite.

Regression Testing Best Practices: Communication and Collaboration

As a company specializing in software testing services, we often see communication being overlooked. It’s often viewed as a “soft value” – good to have but not essential. And this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Work Closely with the Development Team

When QA engineers work closely with developers, they gain insights into the specific changes made to the application. They can precisely grasp how those changes might affect other parts of the system. And so, they can create more accurate tests.

Tight-knit QA/Dev communication also helps prioritize areas that need more rigorous testing. Regular meetings or sync-ups will be beneficial for both teams. They can harmonize their tasks and address issues early in the development cycle.

Share Regular Feedback

Developers and QA specialists aren’t the only people involved in your project. That’s why the communication shouldn’t stop with them. Share insights and findings from your tests with all stakeholders. This way, everyone will be informed and can offer their perspectives on how to advance the product (even before something bad happens).

Use Defect-Tracking Tools

Don’t neglect defect-tracking tools. With them, you can log, track, and categorize defects, making the regression testing process easier to manage. Defect-tracking tools also facilitate collaboration by providing a centralized platform where teams can view the status of reported issues and track their progress. Such software will also allow your crew to prioritize defects based on severity and impact from tech and business POVs.

To Sum Up

And that’s all the core regression testing best practices we can share with you right now. For more professional tips and advice, feel free to browse our blog. And if you’re ready to get testing – our QA specialists are always here to help.