As the rate of cyber threat is increasing, software companies should refine their products. Testing is the crucial approach in the SDLC process & regression testing is one of them. Developers frequently update codes to address security errors, adding up-to-date features to enhance user experience.
However, these fluctuations in code can introduce errors that may affect the functionality. Now, most companies are transforming their testing efforts to automated Regression testing services. The automated testing market will grow to USD 49.9 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 19.2% from the year 2021. Software regression testing enables quality assurance managers to track and address the errors that disrupt the user experience.
Regression testing assists developers in effectively detecting & improving the bugs introduced after changes. There are 2 major approaches to testing: automated & manual. Having a brief understanding of both methods is crucial to improving quality & efficiency. The following blog contains the difference between the Regression testing services approach and which is better to choose.
What Is Regression Testing?
Let’s start with what is regression testing? The following testing is necessary for the SDLC process to address the errors after changes. It ensures seamless functionality after the changes happen. Maintaining software quality & stability is necessary to maintain the user experience. By hiring regression testing services, you can verify that the software is working as it did before the changes in code.
Furthermore, testing helps to keep the software functional & stable during upgrades. During the modifications in code, it may lead to defects & malfunction in the system. Regression testing assists the testing team in overcoming such risks and maintaining the operation integrity. Moreover, it is also a crucial step for early bug detection, avoiding minor issues without investing much.
The common scenarios when regression testing is performed are-
- After the significant modifications in the code.
- Following the integration of new features, code optimization, bug fixing, and refactoring.
- Before releasing the software’s new version.
- It can be frequently performed to prove the codes are right.
- Moreover, it can track defects early before they cause big issues.
Manual Regression Testing
After understanding the brief on what regression testing is, let’s take a brief on manual regression testing. In manual testing, the test cases are performed by the human without involving any automation tools. Finding defects and functional problems prior to a software program becoming life is the goal of manual testing.
With this method, a tester of a Regression testing company must pretend to be an end user and carefully examine the program to find any unexpected features or issues. Considering the product’s functionality, accessibility, and effectiveness is an essential step in SDLC that guarantees the program is error-free and easy to use before it is released to end users.
Process:
- Understand the requirement- First, understand the client’s needs and address what needs to be tested and the expected outcomes. Having basic ideas about client needs assists the QA engineer.
- Test plan creation- The testing team will prepare a test plan based on the project scope, testing objectives, suitable tools for testing & necessary resources.
- Test case designing- The team designs the detailed test case according to the requirements covering multiple scenarios, & functions.
- Test environment setup – In the following step, the test case environment is set up using software installment. Moreover, the configuration is done & ensures access to the relevant resources & data.
- Test case execution- The team executes the test case by interacting with the program as an end user.
- Test report documentation- A document is prepared where everything is mentioned, from the defects found to steps to address the actual results & the expected results, etc.
- Perform Regression testing- The testing team conducts manual regression testing to fix the bugs and ensure that no additional issues are introduced & existing functions are hampered.
- Report preparation- In the last stage, the final report is prepared. Furthermore, the feedback is provided & the improvements are done on that basis.
Pros:
- Manual regression testing offers flexibility to explore & identify unexpected issues.
- Using manual testing in complex testing cases where human intervention is needed is beneficial.
- Additionally, it is easy to implement with minimal setup & tools.
Cons:
- The limitation is it’s time-consuming, especially for a large application.
- It has higher chances of human error & complexity to scale for frequent release.
Automated Regression Testing
In Automation regression testing, the pre-defined test cases are automatically run without human involvement using specialized tools and software. Test automation is the process of autonomously testing software employing tools & frameworks. Repetitive jobs like regression testing and tests that need accuracy and speed benefit greatly from this method.
It involves writing automated test scripts that interact with the software APIs to simulate a human tester’s activities. The test scripts may be run frequently to find bugs and guarantee the program’s accuracy and reliability. Hiring an automated Regression testing company is necessary to verify the stability, performance, and quality of software.
Process:
- Pick the appropriate tool– Select an automation tool based on the needs of the project.
- Establish a foundation for test automation– Create and manage test scripts using an organized framework for test automation.
- Write a script for testing– Using automation tools, create test scripts that include statements for expected results and step-by-step instructions.
- Conduct automated testing– Use the program to automatically run the test scripts, replicating user behaviors such as text entry and button clicks.
- Report the findings– Compare the actual and predicted results, noting any differences as flaws.
- Create test closure reports- To give information about the quality of the application and record the test results, covering both successful and unsuccessful tests.
- Automated testing in the pipeline for CI/CD– To ensure comprehensive testing prior to deployment, include automated testing in your CI/CD pipeline so that tests are automatically triggered with each code change.
- Update testing scripts on a regular basis– Test scripts should be kept up to date to account for modifications to the program, such as new functionality or UI enhancements.
Pros:
- Automated regression testing is popular for faster execution, especially in repetitive test cases.
- Automation testing delivers consistent results with a minimal or zero probability of human error.
- It is a scalable option for projects that require frequent release & continuous integration.
Cons:
- The automation setup cost for testing might be time-consuming & costly.
- Automation testing requires maintenance as software and test cases evolve.
- Automated testing is less flexible as compared to manual testing.
Manual vs. Automated Regression Testing: Key Differences
- Execution Time
Manual testing relies on human effort that consumes time. The testing team may have issues processing the huge volume of data efficiently in manual testing. Manual testing is prone to errors and mistakes. Moreover, automated testing can be much faster than manual tests & executed multiple times without any effort.
Automated testing takes a few hours to complete the step, whereas manual testing takes days. Furthermore, automated testing is more efficient since it minimizes the time needed for repetitive execution of tests. Automation regression testing has better consistency than manual testing, and that’s why it reduces the chances of manual errors.
Through automated regression testing, the same test cases can be operated in less time over various combinations of OS & browsers. At the same time, manual testing consists of human intervention, and it completely relies on personal skills rather than automated smart tools.
- Cost
Automated regression testing is more cost-effective as compared to manual regression testing. The manual testing cost is low, but it may be costly over time with regular testing. In addition, automation testing demands high investment. However, it is cost-effective for repeated tests. Automation testing is a one-time investment, whereas manual testing needs a large amount of human effort & resources.
Automated regression testing can be reused for repetitive tasks that save resources & time. Manual testing needs testers to perform the same routine repeatedly. Automated testing ensures better testing coverage. However, manual testing is still a good option for UI, black box testing, and frequent changes in test cases.
- Human Involvement
The automation regression testing doesn’t ask for human intervention. It never gives an assurance of a positive customer experience and user-friendly software. The manual testing method asks for human intervention, which may be a good choice for offering user-friendly software. Once the tests are set up, minimal human involvement is required in automation testing, whereas in manual testing, human involvement is needed at every step.
In manual testing, the human testers execute the test case on the software system after new features & updates. Additionally, it takes time, but it can also search for specific issues that can’t be found in automated tools. The automation software testing tools are faster and automatically perform the testing on schedule.
- Flexibility and Adaptability
Manual regression testing is flexible & more adaptable than automated testing. The testing team manually performs the test case & adapts to the dynamic changes in the agile development environment. Manual testing is better for exploratory testing to uncover unexpected errors. Automated testing has limited flexibility and is better for predefined scenarios. Automated testing is best suited for data-intensive test cases.
- Suitability for Frequent Testing
Manual testing is less effective for large-scale testing, whereas automated regression testing is suitable for frequent testing, continuous integration, and DevOps. Automated regression testing is popular for efficiency, scalability & reliability.
When to Use Manual Regression Testing?
Manual regression testing is the necessary step of SDLC that verifies the new code changes in the software don’t introduce any issues. Manual regression testing is a good choice when the software has a complex user interface & limited budget. Manual testing can be less efficient & slower than automated testing. However, the situations where manual regression testing works well are-
- Manual testing is performed by software testing companies in short-term projects or small test suites.
- Manual regression testing is suggested when the codebase has been changed. It is necessary to prove that the new integrations don’t have any issues. Regular manual regression testing helps developers to fix the defects caused by poor code.
- It is also helpful in conditions that require human involvement.
- You can also consider regression manual testing of your time and or budget that doesn’t allow for the automation setup.
- The goal of performing the regression testing approach is to find errors that are introduced after integrating new functionality. Above all, it is a proven way to ensure error-free & seamless integration with the external system.
When to Use Automated Regression Testing?
Automated regression testing is the case when the development team develops and integrates automation test scripts to verify the results & effects after new changes. It must be performed several times to identify the new issues. Here are some situations where automated regression testing can be beneficial-
- Automated regression testing is suggested for complex and large apps.
- To verify the results offered by the regression testing are accurate, the test case should run several times. Organizations that make regular changes in the code will find errors when conducting manual regression testing. The testing uses automated regression testing to save time & effort.
- The testing team utilizes automated regression testing when they frequently release new codes in the software & in continuous integration environments.
- If the goal is to enhance the test efficiency & coverage over time, automated regression testing is the right choice.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Manual and Automated Regression Testing
If you want to deliver a user-friendly product to the market, then here are a few things to consider-
1. Project Size and Complexity
Before you decide to choose between automated & regression testing, measure the scope, complexity & project timeline. When you begin to decide, consider your project’s complexity. Automated testing might be a good choice if you are working on repetitive tasks & complex /big projects. However, consider manual testing for projects with complex features & require human support.
Secondly, consider the project timeline, as the automated testing offers quick feedback & detects early regression. As automated testing requires brief planning & investment, it doesn’t make any sense to implement short-term projects that focus on minimal code changes.
2. Budget and Resources
Software testing is necessary for offering top-notch & secure software apps. When it is about making a decision between automated Vs. Manual regression testing budget & resources play a crucial role. Manual testing is a suitable option for smaller apps with tight budgets.
At the same time, regression automation testing is good for large-scale commercial applications. However, automation regression testing delivers long-term savings. Manual testing requires a low investment in tools; however, the labor charges can increase over time. Automated testing requires initial investment, but it is cost-effective.
3. Team Skills and Expertise
When you decide to choose between automated Vs manual regression testing, consider the testing team’s skills. When you choose manual testing, then make sure the testing team has a brief knowledge of the domain & user empathy. The manual testing team needs to understand the test planning & user behavior.
This is most suited for usability, ad-hoc & exploratory testing. The process is time-consuming & has the chance of human error. However, automated testing requires technical expertise. The testing team you choose should have an idea about the automation tools utilized in testing. In this, the testing team must have specialization in scripting & programming knowledge.
Approach to automated regression testing for projects that require frequent test repetition. Furthermore, automation testing is more accurate than manual since it works on predetermined rules. Furthermore, it requires ongoing maintenance & an initial investment.
4. Frequency of Releases
A project that requires consistent & frequent feedback should opt for automated testing. This is more efficient for scenarios that need to be tested frequently. In contrast, manual testing is good for the tests which run less frequently.
5. Long-term Maintenance
Automation regression testing is more effective as compared to manual methods. However, it demands initial setup & ongoing maintenance. Furthermore, manual testing is time-consuming & prone to error.
End-to-End Regression Testing Solutions – Ensure Quality with Every Release!
Now you have a brief understanding of regression testing & its types. To choose between manual testing vs. automated testing, you have to consider various factors such as budget, timeline, project needs & application complexity. However, both approaches have their unique traits and limitations.
Furthermore, the testing team might take a combined hybrid approach to achieve comprehensive test coverage & high-quality software. To make the right balance, organizations should measure the requirement and integrate the combined approach of manual & automation testing strategies.
Approaching Regression methodology testing has different advantages no matter which method you pick. Selecting the best strategy according to the particular project need & testing types being conducted. Software testers from Regression testing companies can get a thorough and effective testing procedure that optimizes test coverage and accuracy by integrating automated and manual testing.
The most significant outcomes are obtained via a hybrid testing strategy. For thorough coverage & customer experience assessment, combine automated and human testing in the quality assurance plan rather than depending just on automation.
Guest article written by:
Mit Thakkar is a seasoned digital marketer with a passion for blending creativity and data-driven strategies to drive impactful results. With a keen interest in tech, Mit frequently explores topics like regression testing in software testing, showcasing their expertise in ensuring seamless digital experiences. Dedicated to innovation, Mit continues to thrive in the dynamic marketing landscape.
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