Regression Testing Implementation Approaches: Full vs. Partial Regression

A software testing company must implement various tests to ensure the success of its project. In 2024, the most popular testing type was unit testing, with 78% of worldwide respondents using it. This was followed by integration testing, which was used by 63% of respondents. However, one type of testing that is crucial in quality assurance is regression testing. This is a process that makes sure existing features keep working properly even following code base changes. 

Still, regression testing is more complex than this. It can be either full or partial. In this post, we will go over the benefits and drawbacks of regression testing approaches. We will also see which one might work better for your strategy. 

What Is Regression Testing and How Can It Help?

It refers to a type of test ensuring all settings work properly even after a team adds new features or makes code changes. 

Continuous development is a must when you are working on software applications. Still, sometimes, fixing bugs or making small changes can be enough to cause your project to malfunction. 

In this case, regression testing looks for the reason. It establishes whether regressions were caused in the code following certain changes and updates. Regression tests are also ideal in Agile development models and before the software is ready for release. 

What Makes Regression Testing So Important in Quality Assurance?

Every test automation company that wants to release a fully working product must implement this in its strategy. After all, no reliable developers want to release a faulty product. 

With the right approach, this type of testing will maintain the quality of your evolving project. Here are some reasons why regression testing shouldn’t be ignored:

• It Upholds High-Quality Standards

Let’s say you add new features to your software as part of the normal development process. Sometimes, some of the new settings could interfere with the existing ones. Regression tests let you check whether there are any issues. It tells you if something should be fixed before moving forward.

• It Helps You Avoid Unexpected Bugs and Glitches

Another thing that regression testing can help with as part of application testing services is making sure there are no unexpected bugs or issues. It is never pleasant to spend months working on a program, only for a new update has broken everything. 

Without taking care of these things, you might end up releasing a defective product, leading to customer loss and even bad reviews. Your business could take a serious blow if you don’t solve defects on time. 

• It Ensures the Functionality of New Features Alongside Old Ones

New and existing features should work in harmony. When you add a new code or change a setting, it should connect with the rest of the system naturally. Regression testing ensures that every new feature integrates smoothly, without causing chaos within your project. 

How Do QA Teams Perform Regression Testing?

There are many ways to perform regression tests. However, there are a few steps that most QA teams take when they want to make sure everything goes smoothly. They are:

1. Finding Source Code Changes – At first, developers will try to find what parts were affected whenever they change or optimize the code. 
2. Prioritizing the Right Changes – Developers will prioritize certain changes and issues based on their importance. So, they will see which functionalities are influenced by recent changes and how they are affected. This makes the testing process more efficient. 
3. Creating the Test Suite – Developers will establish a test suite, which is a group of testing scenarios that addresses multiple functionalities relevant to the app. These suites are made using integration tests, functional tests, and other test cases.
4. Picking a Testing Approach – Testers will decide whether they want to use a manual or automated approach. Moreover, they will determine whether they should go with full or partial regression testing. 

Full vs Partial Regression – What They Are and Which One Is Better

As a tester, you should know that there are multiple approaches to regression testing. The testing can either be full or partial, depending on the case. 

But what makes them different and why are they beneficial? 

• Full Regression Testing

Full regression testing, also known as complete regression, is a testing type that evaluates every existing feature or functionality. This testing type is integral to test automation services that are looking for long-term stability. 

Full regression ensures that an app meets all project requirements and that no change has caused unexpected issues anywhere in the software. 

Although this process allows teams to find and resolve defects more easily, it is also more time-consuming. Moreover, it will cost a lot and use more resources. For this reason, it is suitable when an app has to be adjusted for a new platform or language or when it goes through a big update. 

• What Makes Full Regression Testing So Useful?

Regression testing is useful for various reasons. For example, it:

• Can help handle all risks related to app changes
• Ensures that your software meets every requirement and quality standard
• Detects issues or regressions that recent updates or changes may have introduced 
• Makes sure that the entire software system gets comprehensive validation
• Partial Regression Testing

As the name suggests, partial regression testing includes tests that only evaluate a part of a software product following changes or updates. More often than not, QA teams opt for this type of test because it leads to more accurate results. 

In partial testing, the updated parts and a few related modules go through testing to ensure no features were impacted. Unlike full regression testing, it doesn’t retest all functionality but rather focuses on a smaller number of test cases. 

Regression testing is suitable when you are dealing with complex or large-scale programs where you must do a bunch of test scripts. 

• What Makes Partial Regression Testing So Useful?

There are a few reasons why load testing services will find partial regression so useful, such as:

• Partial regression makes sure that you get quicker feedback regarding the effect of recent changes. Testing efforts will focus on areas that the updates affected directly. This way, the release cycles get shorter. This means teams can address all problems early on and release the product on time. 
• With partial regression testing, testers and developers will focus on specific parts of the software that were impacted by updates. This saves time compared to approaches where you test the whole application. 
• When apps become more complex, partial regression testing makes the procedure more scalable. This way, testers can keep a balance between efficient testing and thorough validation. 

The Bottom Line

Full and partial regression tests can ensure that a program still works properly even after you make certain updates or changes. 

Full regression testing is more suitable after major updates, helping you eliminate all risks and defects. On the other hand, partial tests work better when you only want to focus on a specific part of the software. 

Choosing the correct approach will influence the success of the testing process. Before you start, think about which procedure would help you accomplish your goals.