Regression testing is an important part of the software development process. It helps identify and fix problems that may occur after updates or changes to your code base. Application dependability and stability are two of the most important things in software development. By running many regression tests, you can ensure that these changes do not affect the functionality already in place.
Regression testing has often been a time- and labor-intensive operation. Enterprises can now automate regression testing, resulting in quicker, more precise results.
Understanding Regression Testing
Regression testing is used in software development to identify and address issues that may arise when adding new code or changing a code base. It is an essential part of software development, as it ensures the reliability and quality of the program. Regression testing executes numerous test cases to ensure that modified functionality does not affect previously existing functionality. It has frequently taken much time and effort to perform regression testing.
Test automation allows businesses to streamline this process and produce quicker, more accurate results. Such regressions are the focus of regression testing, which also seeks to guarantee that the application is reliable and practical across all development and maintenance phases.
Why Automate Regression Testing?
Regression testing automation has several advantages and benefits for software development and testing processes.
The following are some of the main reasons stated by businesses for their decision to automate regression testing:
Time Productivity
Regression testing can be time-consuming, particularly with intricate and extensive applications. Organizations can dramatically reduce the time needed to execute test cases by automating the testing process. Automated tests run far faster than manual tests, enabling rapid feedback on the program’s stability and functionality following a code update.
Lower Cost
Automating regression testing can drastically cut expenditures over time. Developing test scripts and setting up automation frameworks require early investments. Still, overall costs gradually decrease due to the ability to reuse the same test suite across multiple releases, saving a significant amount of resources and manual labor.
Increased Test Coverage
Test coverage is increased because of the ability of testers to run several test cases concurrently in various scenarios, environments, and platforms thanks to automation. This extensive testing lowers the possibility that software flaws will go unnoticed by ensuring that all critical features and edge cases are thoroughly examined.
Accuracy and Consistency
Because automated testing is accurate and consistent, it removes human errors that might occur during manual testing. Results are more dependable and reproducible when test scripts that have been written and validated consistently produce the same findings.
Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
The CI/CD pipelines’ seamless automation integration makes releasing software frequently and continuously possible. Continuous integration and continuous deployment, or CI/CD, refers to this. Automated regression tests can be added to the development process to ensure no regressions are introduced before deploying code changes to production.
Early Bug Detection
Automated regression testing assists in the early identification of flaws during the development cycle. Early problem detection and resolution reduces costs and labor requirements for cleanup, reducing further client complaints and negative consequences on the company’s reputation.
Resource Optimization
Testers can spend more time on creative and exploratory testing initiatives by automating time-consuming and repetitive tasks. This broadens their skill sets and allows them to investigate disciplines like user experience evaluation and usability testing that require human talents.
Regression Safety Net: Automated regression tests provide a safety net to prevent any unplanned regressions brought on by recent code updates or additions. This safety net ensures that the program will be reliable and stable, providing stakeholders and developers with comfort.
The Correlation Between Real Device Testing and Regression Testing
Regression testing is a software testing procedure that ensures new code modifications do not adversely affect current functionality. This is how regression testing and actual device testing are related. It is done to ensure the application works properly after upgrades or revisions.
Contrarily, real device testing entails testing software on real hardware (such as smartphones and tablets) to verify its performance and functionality in genuine environments.
The complementary nature of the two is what binds the two terms together. Regression testing is usually carried out in a controlled setting, with test suites covering multiple software facets. After the initial tests are completed with flying colors, real device testing is used to verify how the application behaves on actual hardware and operating systems while considering a variety of device configurations and user interactions.
Testing on actual devices helps to find problems that may not be visible in simulated environments used for regression testing. This includes flaws with the hardware itself, performance snags, and usability issues that manifest in real-world settings.
The Benefits of Real Device Testing
Real device testing offers numerous advantages to software development and testing processes in the context of testing mobile apps. The following are some major benefits of conducting genuine device testing:
Compatibility check
Actual device testing aids in detecting compatibility problems that may develop due to variations in the hardware and software. This is known as compatibility verification. This is significant in light of the enormous variety of mobile devices on the market today, each with unique features and specifications. It ensures the program runs well on the full spectrum of target devices, lowering the possibility of unfavorable user experiences on particular platforms.
Performance testing
Testing on real hardware makes it possible to assess an application’s performance in actual use. Testers can evaluate the app’s speed, responsiveness, and resource usage across various devices to ensure it satisfies performance goals.
Security testing
Testers can use genuine devices to evaluate the app’s security features, such as data encryption, authentication processes, and data storage. This ensures the security and protection of sensitive user data.
Usability and UI/UX Evaluation
Testing usability and user interface/user experience (UI/UX) on actual devices is crucial for figuring out how effectively the app functions across various devices. Any UI inconsistencies, layout issues, or navigational challenges that could harm the user experience can be found by testers.
Battery and Power Consumption Testing
Testing real devices’ battery life and power usage makes it simple to determine how an application affects these factors. The app’s user experience and energy efficiency must be improved with the help of this information.
Geolocation and Sensor Testing
By testing actual devices, testers may confirm the functionality of geolocation-based features and interactions involving sensors (such as an accelerometer or gyroscope). This is especially important for applications that use location-based services and augmented reality.
Compliance with App Store Guidelines
App stores have tight policies and requirements for mobile apps that must be followed. The likelihood of successful app submissions and approvals rises when real device testing guarantees that the app conforms to these requirements.
How to Select Test Cases for Regression Testing Automation?
To effectively cover the most important functionalities and potential risk areas, selecting test cases for regression testing automation demands a systematic and careful approach. An outline of the procedure is provided below for your convenience:
Step 1: Understand the Application
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the program’s capabilities, features, and architecture. Collaborate with product managers, stakeholder representatives, and developers to gather pertinent data regarding the application’s core functionality and intended use cases.
Step 2: Identify the Right Test Cases
Determine the test scenarios that can be automated. Concentrate on the test cases that will add the greatest value to the regression testing process because not all test cases are good candidates for automation. To choose the appropriate test scenarios, take into account the following factors:
- High-Impact Areas: Identify essential features of the application’s primary function or that end users often use.
- Areas That Change A Lot: Pay special attention to test cases for areas of the program that are frequently updated or improved.
- Complex Scenarios: Choose test cases that address complicated use cases, ensuring that complex interactions are adequately evaluated.
Step 3: Prioritize the Test Cases
Prioritize the test cases based on their significance and potential influence on the application once you have determined the appropriate ones. To rank test cases in order of importance, use a risk-based method. Think about the following elements:
- Business Impact: Sort test cases according to how failures in particular areas may affect the overarching business objectives.
- Frequency of Use: Priority should be given to test cases that match commonly used features.
- Criticality: Consider how crucial each test case is to the stability and user experience of the program.
Step 4: Evaluate the Feasibility of Automation
Due to issues like complexity or the effort needed for automation, not all test cases may be automatable. To decide which test cases are suitable for automation, perform a feasibility analysis. Think about the following elements:
- Stability: To make automated script maintenance simple, pick stable test cases, and not be prone to frequent changes.
- Data Dependency: Determine whether the test cases depend on any particular data that would be difficult to manage in an automated system.
- Changes to the User Interface (UI): Automating and maintaining test cases that significantly rely on UI components may take more work.
Step 5: Choose an Automation Framework
Select an automated testing framework that satisfies your regression testing requirements and allows for future adjustments. A few items to consider include the programming language, test script maintenance, reporting capabilities, and interface with current tools and settings.
Step 6: Develop Automated Test Scripts
Write automated test scripts using the test cases you’ve chosen and the automation framework you’ve chosen. Ensure the scripts are well-documented, easy to understand, and follow standard coding conventions to promote maintenance and team engagement.
Step 7: Execute the Automated Tests
Running the automated test scripts should be done during regression testing. This can be done manually or integrated into CI/CD pipelines (continuous integration and continuous deployment) to enable ongoing, automated testing during development.
Step 8: Review and Maintain Test Scripts
Review the test scripts periodically to better test coverage and account for application changes. Verify that the automated test suite reflects the application’s current state and is up to date.
Step 9: Analyze Test Results
Look at the test results generated by the automated regression tests. Recognize any errors or deviations from the expected outcomes, and report them immediately so they can be investigated further and resolved.
Step 10: Iterate and Improve
Follow the methods above iteratively to keep refining the automated regression testing process. Seek feedback from the testing team and stakeholders to identify areas for improvement and to increase the efficiency of the regression testing automation.
Real Device Testing Considerations
Real device testing is necessary to guarantee that programs run on various end-user devices without a hitch. It does, however, have particular difficulties and problems. Let’s examine the causes, challenges, and remedies for each:
Types of Real Devices to Test On:
Diversity
Test on various gadgets that reflect different screen sizes, resolutions, operating systems, and hardware setups. Think about the laptops, tablets, cellphones, and other gadgets your target market uses.
Market Share
To test the most significant percentage of your user base, prioritize high-market share devices.
Latest Devices
Include the most recent gadget models that end users widely use to assess compatibility with contemporary technologies.
User Geographies
Because device usage may fluctuate depending on location, consider regional preferences and target particular geographic areas to ensure regional device coverage.
The Challenges of Real Device Testing:
Device Fragmentation
It is difficult to test for every scenario due to the wide range of device configurations (such as OS versions, screen sizes, and hardware setups).
Cost and Resource Intensity
Purchasing and upkeep of various genuine devices can be expensive and resource-intensive.
Testing Environment Control
Because of variations in network connectivity, software setups, and third-party apps, providing a uniform and controlled testing environment across devices is challenging.
Execution Takes Time
Testing on actual hardware requires more time than testing on emulators or simulators.
Device Accessibility
Some devices may be restricted, particularly for uncommon or vintage models.
How to Overcome the Challenges of Real Device Testing:
Cloud-Based Testing
Use cloud-based testing services that access various genuine devices without requiring physical ownership. Parallel testing on numerous devices is made possible via cloud-based testing, which saves time and money.
Prioritize Device Coverage
Give the devices you plan to test the most attention depending on their market share and popularity with your target demographic. To reach a sizable section of your user base, concentrate on the devices that are used the most frequently.
Test on emulators and simulators
Although real device testing is still required, early testing can be done on emulators and simulators to quickly identify and fix critical problems before moving on to real devices.
Test Device Management
Implement efficient device management strategies to track devices, ensure proper upkeep, and impose access restrictions.
Continuous Testing
Incorporate real device testing into your CI/CD pipelines to enable continuous testing throughout the development process. This will facilitate early bug detection and quick feedback loops.
External Testing Partners
Work with outside testing partners who have access to various genuine devices to avoid the expense and difficulty of keeping a large inventory of devices.
Tools like LambdaTest resolve multiple issues that arise during physical device testing. From an extensive range of browsers, devices, and operating systems to advanced functionalities, the tool becomes a popular aid in regression testing automation.
Wrapping Up
Automated regression testing ensures systems continue operating correctly even after code revisions and is a crucial component of software development. Organizations can expand test coverage, improve accuracy, and accelerate releases by selecting the right test cases and successfully automating them.
Real device testing is used with regression testing to validate software in real-world settings, enhance user experience, and boost program quality. Adopting automation and real device testing will undoubtedly lead to more dependable and efficient software deployments in today’s fast-paced digital environment.