The wonderful thing about regression is you get to do it so many times

🧪 Regression Testing: What It Is and Why It Matters

Regression testing is a software testing technique focused on verifying that newly added code changes—such as features, bug fixes, or enhancements—haven’t unintentionally disrupted existing functionality. In other words, it ensures the system still behaves correctly after updates.

This type of testing plays a critical role in maintaining software stability, especially in environments with frequent code iterations or complex dependencies. Each time a change is made, it can affect seemingly unrelated parts of the application. Regression tests act as a safety net, catching these surprises before they reach end users.

There are several ways to perform regression testing:

• Manual Regression Testing involves testers re-executing predefined test cases. This works for small changes but becomes time-consuming as the test suite grows.
• Automated Regression Testing leverages tools or frameworks (like Selenium, JUnit, or Cypress) to run tests quickly and consistently. Automation is ideal for repetitive scenarios and large applications.

Effective regression testing often includes:

• Prioritizing critical test cases that touch high-impact areas
• Maintaining a reliable test suite that evolves with the product
• Scheduling regular test runs—such as during continuous integration or before major releases

It’s also common to use test scripts, version control, and reporting tools to manage regression testing efficiently. Many teams integrate it into their DevOps or Agile pipelines to ensure faster feedback cycles.

Ultimately, regression testing protects the user experience and builds confidence in a product’s long-term health. Without it, development teams risk shipping bugs that undermine trust and lead to costly fixes. Done right, it’s a quiet hero of software quality assurance.

Editing.