Top 3 regression testing types & how to execute them

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Top 3 Regression Testing Types How to
Execute Them
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Introduction The National Security Agency
recently alerted Microsoft about a major flaw
discovered in the Windows operating system. The
bug could expose the users to significant
breaches, surveillance, or disruption, reported Wa
shington Post. Post the alert, Microsoft has
released a security patch for the flaw. The
bug was essentially a mistake in the computer
code that would have affected the Windows 10 OS,
which is widely used by governments and
businesses. There could have been serious
implications if the wrong forces sensed the bug
earlier and exploited the vulnerability to cause
serious damage.   The thing about finding bugs
ages after the code has gone live is that it
needs to be backdated and fixed, such that it
falls back into its place seamlessly. Regression
testing needs to be done to ensure that there are
as little of these after-release shocks as
possible. 
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What is Regression Testing? Regression
testing is a blackbox testing technique
performed by executing units of code repeatedly
to ensure that the on-going code modifications do
not impact the systems functionality.
Alterations to the application can occur in
various forms, be it new functionality, bug
fixes, integrations, functionality enhancements,
interfaces, patches, among others. Many software
development engineers would insist that as long
as essential functions are tested and are able to
deliver results as per the requirement, it would
suffice. While this may be practical, regression
testing can prove to be a real blessing at a
later stage, because rather than just
guaranteeing the functionality being tested for,
it ensures that there are no other nasty
surprises. Even seemingly irrelevant
modifications can result in complete breaking
down of existing functionality. This is why
regression testing is crucial to ascertain that
the modified code has not impacted ANY part of
the system. It is advisable for regression tests
to be executed as often as possible throughout
the software development life cycle.

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• Types of Regression Testing 
• Often, regression testing is done through several
  phases of testing. It is for this reason, that
  there are several types of regression testing,
  such as 
• Unit regression  Unit regression testing,
  executed during the unit testing phase, tests the
  code as a single unit. It has a narrow and
  focused approach, where complex interactions and
  dependencies outside the unit of code in question
  are temporarily blocked. 
• Partial regression  Partial regression is
  performed after impact analysis. In this testing
  process, the new addition of the code as a unit
  is made to interact with other parts of older
  existing code. Doing so determines that even with
  code modification, the system functions in silos
  as desired. 
• Complete regression  Complete regression testing
  is often carried out when the code changes for
  modification or the software updates seep way
  back into the roots. It is also carried out in
  case there are multiple changes to the existing
  code. It gives a comprehensive view of the system
  as a whole and weeds out any unforeseen problems.
  A sort of a final regression testing is
  implemented to certify that the build (new lines
  of code) has not been altered for a period of
  time. This final version is then deployed
  to the end users. 
• Read Full Blog at https//www.cigniti.com/blog/to
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