Regression Testing for Websites or Web Apps

Though Website Design and Development is responsible for creating the web project, testing can make a high-quality website or application. One testing type that can significantly help your website or application is Regression Testing. It allows QA testers to see if updates have caused unforeseen changes or regressions in the site or app.

Of course, during the Quality Assurance Testing process, testers must continuously evaluate the functions of a website or web application. Functional Testing allows testers to double-check a website or app’s design and functionality to eliminate defects or bugs. However, there are also regression bugs, which are issues or defects that occur due to changes in the software.

So with Regression Testing, a developer can catch any defects or bugs introduced after code alterations. Thus, they can help ensure your website or app functions as intended. 

Website Regression Testing During the Development Process

Testers must return to test cases often as part of the Quality Assurance process. In particular, they should also check project quality after developers make changes to the design or functionality. In addition, you can test based on changes in the business requirements.

So let’s say that a Web Design and Development team has finished five modules as specified in the initial requirements. However, they implemented changes in module six because the client changed the requirements. Also, module six is connected to module three, so the developers need to modify the latter.

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After modifying the third module, the QA Specialists will check if it still functions properly. Even if the testers examined the modules before the changes occurred, it’s still vital to recheck.

Here’s a list of ways this testing type can improve your website or web application:

Maintains the Site or App’s Stability.

Testing will allow developers to maintain the web project’s stability by finding issues after recent changes to the code. Thus, Website Regression Testing helps prevent crashes and unexpected outcomes that might disrupt the User Experience.

Ensures that Existing Features Continue to Work as Expected.

Alterations to code may negatively affect the behavior of a project’s components. So, Regression Testing will help you preserve existing features and functionalities after those alterations.

Identifies and Fixes Regression Bugs.

Again, regression bugs are defects in the web project after code updates. Testing will find these bugs so you can remedy them long before the launch stage. 

Contributes to Overall Quality Assurance.

Consistent Website and Web Application QA Testing improves a website or application’s quality and performance by reducing defects. Testers can check on the project after any updates to the code.

Assists with Agile Development and Continuous Integration.

In both Agile Development and Continuous Integration, frequent changes are expected. Regression Testing plays a crucial role in testing project iterations and validating modifications to its functionalities. As a result, developers can produce releases quicker and more reliably without sacrificing quality.

Keeps End-users Satisfied.

Testing allows your team to find and eliminate bugs, preserving a site or app’s expected behavior. You can create a top-notch web project that meets user expectations through Regression Tests. Thus, the tests also result in improved customer retention.

Types of Website Regression Testing

There are three main types of tests: Partial, Complete, and Selective.

Partial Regression Testing

In Partial Regression Testing, you only need to execute a specific group of test cases centering on the modified portions of the web project. Thus, you can speed up testing without losing out on project quality.

Full or Complete Regression Testing

This testing type will reexamine the entire website or app. Often, a team will run tests after significant changes to the code. Alternatively, Complete Testing is necessary if the changes come with high risks. So, this type of test is time-consuming and requires a significant amount of resources.

Selective Regression Testing

Selective testing will only check test cases that are the most likely to be affected by updates in the code. These test cases are chosen based on a few factors, including:

• Risk analysis;
• Prioritization; and
• The modified areas of the project.

This testing type can optimize QA testing efforts only on components with critical functionality. As a result, it reduces overall testing time.

The Regression Testing Process

Website Regression Tests will check on existing features to validate their current functionality after any modifications. This testing process must be repeated as often as necessary, depending on the frequency of the updates. 

One way to improve the testing process is to utilize the proper Quality Assurance Tools, though finding them can be challenging. Not only that, QA teams should consider utilizing automation.

Source: DogQ.

Here’s how the testing process works:

Identify the Test Cases

Before starting the testing process, you must find suitable test cases. They should cover several aspects of the project, including the following:

• Crucial functionalities;
• Features that are vital for end-users; and
• The areas which are most likely to be affected by alterations.

If you need hints on creating these test cases, consider checking past test suites, user scenarios, and defect reports.

Create Test Data and Determine Test Coverage

You need test data on various scenarios and inputs to execute your test cases. Depending on your web project’s nature, you may have to acquire or create the data. But, it must represent real-world user interaction. That way, you can effectively validate the website or web application.

Selection and Setup of Test Environments

Your test environment must resemble the production environment as closely as possible. So when setting up your test environment, make sure to carefully configure the following:

• Hardware;
• Software;
• Network settings;
• Databases, etc.

Execute the Tests

By executing your Website Regression Tests, you run your test cases on your modified system. Also, consider performing a baseline test! Then, you can compare the actual results with your initial expectations. 

You can utilize automated testing tools to speed up test execution. In fact, “78% of organizations” use automation for either Functional or Regression Testing.

Document and Evaluate Test Results

Once done with execution and defect detection, you need to document your findings. QA testers must record the following in their results:

• Inconsistencies or defects;
• Discrepancies between the outcome and the expected results;
• Any new concerns about the project, etc.

Afterward, the team should analyze their recorded results to determine how the changes affect the project’s functionality. Also, they can use the report to identify other issues that require further consideration.

Prioritize the Fixes

To ensure the website or app performs as expected, you must remedy any bugs found during the testing stage. You should prioritize issues according to the severity and impact on project functions.

The QA team should fix defects and, most importantly, eliminate regression bugs. The project must undergo thorough Regression Testing to ensure that fixes take effect. During retests, you must validate if there are no new issues or regressions. 

Bonus: Test Automation

Automation is an excellent way to speed up repetitive test cases. The right automation tools will save time and resources for future regression cycles. So you test faster and more frequently as your web project evolves. But although Regression Testing is an excellent candidate for automation, only 15 to 20% of it is automated.

Final Thoughts

Website Regression Testing examines if updates to a site or app have resulted in any changes. This testing is vital to ensuring any modifications don’t introduce bugs or disrupt existing functions. After every update, you can use Partial, Full, and Selective Regression Testing to examine your web project. 

This testing type is vital to the development process because it accomplishes the following:

• Maintains the project’s stability;
• Ensures all features work as intended;
• Identifies regression bugs for fixing;
• Contributes to overall project Quality Assurance;
• Assists the Agile Development method and Continuous Integration; and
• Contributes to end-user satisfaction.

Count on an experienced Web QA Tester to keep a site or app reliable even after recent fixes.

About Adam Tan

Adam is a charming geek who loves his family's Siberian Husky, enjoys the occasional night out with friends and, most of all, lives and breathes new trends and updates about the web and its technicalities. If you want to stay updated with changes or new trends on the web or learn about the technicalities that are involved, he's your guy. He's capable of writing cheesy stuff as well, but he'd rather stick with the manly stuff.

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