Navigating Software Quality: A Guide to Retesting and Regression Testing
Tags: retesting, and, regression, testing
Published: 2024-01-03 06:00:44

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/9muhwcu1ev0584ir74q2.jpg)
In the dynamic world of software development, ensuring the standard and functionality of a product is paramount. This is often where testing methodologies like retesting and regression testing step in. These practices play an important role in identifying and rectifying potential issues, ensuring that software performs seamlessly whilst it evolves. In this article, we’ll delve into the concepts of retesting and regression testing, understanding their significance and the way they contribute to achieving superior software quality.

**The Essence of Retesting and Regression Testing**

Retesting and regression testing are two distinct but closely related testing methodologies that focus on different aspects of software testing.

**Retesting**: This process involves re-executing the test cases that initially detected defects in the software. It aims to verify that the reported issues are fixed and no new defects are introduced during the correction process. Retesting may be a critical step to make sure that the identified bugs are successfully resolved and therefore the software is functioning as intended.

**Regression Testing**: Unlike retesting, regression testing aims to detect new defects or unintended side effects which may arise as a results of code changes or additions. As software evolves, developers introduce new features or make modifications, which may inadvertently impact existing functionalities. Regression testing involves retesting not only the precise defect but also other related areas to make sure that the changes haven’t caused any unintended disruptions.

**The Role of Retesting**

Retesting acts as a litmus test to validate that the identified defects have been effectively addressed. It ensures that the software is now functioning correctly according to the specifications. Without proper retesting, there’s a risk that the same issues might persist, leading to user dissatisfaction and compromised software quality.

Consider a scenario where a user reported that a login feature was not functioning. The development team rectifies the issue and performs retesting to verify that the login process now works as expected. This step provides the confidence that the specific problem has been resolved and the software is ready for further testing.

**The Significance of Regression Testing**

While retesting focuses on the specific defects, regression testing broadens the scope to encompass the entire software. It guards against the unintended consequences that might arise due to code changes. Software systems are complex, and even a small modification can potentially impact other functionalities. Regression testing ensures that the new changes do not adversely affect the software’s stability and performance.

Imagine a situation where a software update was made to enhance a particular feature. While the enhancement was successful, it inadvertently caused a bug in another part of the application. Regression testing would be necessary to identify this unintended side effect and rectify it promptly.

**The Symbiotic Relationship**

Retesting and regression testing work hand in hand to ensure that software maintains its quality throughout its lifecycle. After fixing a defect (retesting), the software’s broader functionalities are evaluated (regression testing) to make sure that the fix has not led to any collateral damage. This dual approach helps developers catch potential issues early, saving time and resources that might otherwise be spent resolving larger problems down the line.

**Conclusion**

In the changing world of software development, retesting and regression testing are essential, for ensuring quality. With no-code test automation platform like Opkey, the users can convert manual test cases into automated ones with just one click, helping businesses to reduce cost, time and efforts of regression testing. Opkey’s repository consists of more than 30000 automated test cases, which increases testing coverage right from the beginning. Its self-healing script technology fixes broken tests in one click reducing maintenance efforts by 80%, thus speeding up the testing process. Its end-to-end testing makes sure that software performs as expected after every release, update and change.