In software development, even the smallest change can have unexpected ripple effects. Regression testing ensures that new code, updates, or bug fixes don’t break existing functionality. By re-running critical test cases, teams can quickly confirm that the software still performs as intended—maintaining quality, stability, and user confidence with every release.
Whether you’re deploying minor enhancements or major updates, regression testing is an essential step in delivering reliable software.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s take a closer look at regression testing—how it works, when to use it, and why it’s essential for maintaining software quality. We’ll explore different types of regression testing, practical techniques for managing your test suite, and the tools that can help automate and streamline the process. By understanding the finer details, you’ll be better equipped to implement a regression testing strategy that keeps your releases stable, efficient, and user-ready.
Table of contents
- A definition of regression testing
- Who usually does regression testing?
- What is the primary goal of regression testing in a QA life cycle?
- What is the difference between QA regression testing and regression testing?
- Why Regression Testing matters
- Can regression testing be automated?
- How to do Regression Testing well 💪
- What is an example of a regression test?
- What tool is used for regression testing?
- FAQs
A definition of regression testing
Regression testing is testing you do to check that everything still works as expected after you’ve changed something in your software (such as after an update).
That’s it. You can go and click around some other blogs if you like, but that’s what it is. If you’re curious, it’s called regression testing because we’re making sure the software hasn’t “regressed” (AKA “got worse”) as a result of your changes.
In fact, we’ll go one step further in simplifying the matter: at its heart, regression testing is like a big game of spot the difference. When you run a regression test, you’re basically using the new version of your software and trying to work out everything that’s changed compared to the old version.
Who usually does regression testing?
Regression testing is usually carried out by the Quality Assurance (QA) team, but who does it can vary depending on the project and development approach. In many organisations, QA engineers handle planning, executing, and automating regression test suites. However, in Agile and DevOps environments, developers often run automated regression tests as part of continuous integration pipelines, while business users or product owners may be involved in validating critical user journeys. The goal is always the same—ensure that new changes don’t break existing functionality—so regression testing is often a shared responsibility across QA, development, and sometimes UAT teams.
What is the primary goal of regression testing in a QA life cycle?
The primary goal of regression testing in the QA life cycle is to ensure that recent code changes—such as bug fixes, updates, or new features—haven’t introduced defects into existing functionality. It safeguards the overall stability, performance, and usability of the application by re-running targeted test cases to confirm that everything still works as expected. Within the QA life cycle, regression testing acts as a quality gate, helping teams deliver reliable software, reduce production risks, and maintain a consistent user experience across every release.
What is the difference between QA regression testing and regression testing?
Regression testing refers to the overall practice of re-testing software after changes—such as bug fixes, updates, or new feature releases—to ensure existing functionality hasn’t been broken. It’s a testing methodology, not tied to any specific team.
QA regression testing, on the other hand, specifically describes regression testing carried out by the Quality Assurance (QA) team. In many organisations, QA handles the planning, execution, and reporting of regression tests, often using automated suites alongside manual checks.
However, regression testing itself can also be performed by developers, product teams, or business users, depending on the process.
In short:
Regression testing = the concept and process.
QA regression testing = when the QA team is responsible for running and managing those tests.
Why Regression Testing matters
Modern software ecosystems are deeply interconnected, meaning small changes can lead to big, unexpected consequences.
A simple UI tweak might break a critical function, or an update in one application could disrupt data flows to another, causing entire workflows to fail. As enterprise environments grow more complex, predicting every potential impact manually becomes nearly impossible.
That’s why regression testing is essential. It ensures that, after any update, enhancement, or bug fix, your software and its connected systems continue to work exactly as intended. Without it, defects slip into later testing phases—or worse, into production—leading to delays, rising costs, and frustrated users. In severe cases, undetected issues can cause downtime, lost revenue, reputational damage, and even regulatory penalties.
Can regression testing be automated?
The good news? Regression testing is a perfect candidate for test automation. So yes, it absolutely can be automated 🤖
By automating repetitive, high-value test cases, QA teams can validate releases quickly, scale testing efficiently, and maintain confidence in software quality—without draining resources. In short, regression testing isn’t just best practice; it’s a business-critical safeguard for stability, performance, and customer trust.
How to do Regression Testing well 💪
To get regression testing right, you need a strategic, structured approach—not just re-running old tests and hoping for the best. Start by focusing on critical user journeys and high-impact areas most likely to be affected by recent changes. Automate repeatable test cases wherever possible to improve speed and consistency, while complementing automation with targeted manual testing for complex scenarios. Keep your regression test suite prioritised and up to date so effort is always focused where it matters most.
If you’re just getting started, you may find it useful to explore what goes into a regression test pack and how to build one effectively.
But doing regression testing well isn’t just about process—it’s also about using the right tools and techniques:
- Move beyond prescriptive testing. Traditional regression testing often requires you to specify exactly what to check—whether that’s a calculation, a button, or a data field. The problem? Software updates can cause unexpected changes you didn’t think to test for. Our approach flips this model: instead of asking what to test, our “spot the difference” methodology automatically highlights every change—from missing buttons and broken links to altered layouts and spelling errors. You get visibility into what matters and the chance to catch issues you’d otherwise miss.
- Use tools that cover your entire tech stack. Modern enterprises rarely rely on a single ecosystem. You’re likely working across multiple platforms—on-premise systems, cloud-based apps, custom tools, and legacy environments. Original Software’s solutions are designed to test across them all. Whether it’s a 30-year-old IBM green screen, Salesforce, or a custom-built application, you only need one testing platform to manage, execute, and maintain your tests—simplifying workflows and reducing tool fatigue.
- Minimise Manual Library Maintenance. Regression testing often involves baselining—running tests on a known working version of the software to create a benchmark for future comparisons. The problem is that keeping these baselines up to date manually can be time-consuming, especially when vendors push updates every few weeks. Original Software streamlines this by allowing you to automatically set a new baseline in one click once a test passes. Less time managing libraries means more time focusing on quality. By adopting a smarter process and the right testing tools, regression testing becomes faster, more accurate, and far less resource-intensive. For a deeper dive into running effective regression tests, check out our dedicated blog: ‘How to run a regression test’.
What is an example of a regression test?
A great case study example comes from CertainTeed, who used our automated testing and test management solutions to transform their QA process. By implementing structured regression testing, they successfully prevented bugs from slipping into production—improving quality, accelerating releases, and boosting confidence across the business.
Another regression testing example comes from Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) and our case study of how Original Software helped them to transform their testing processes. Faced with a highly complex and business-critical SAP upgrade, CMBC had no formal test scripts, a heavily customised environment, and multiple modules spanning finance, sales, production, and warehouse management. The risks were high, but by adopting Original Software’s testing platform, CMBC was able to automate business process capture, streamline regression testing, and cut project costs and timelines significantly. The result? Faster upgrades, fewer defects, and higher confidence in their SAP systems.
What tool is used for regression testing?
There are many tools available for regression testing, but few are designed to handle the scale, speed, and complexity of modern enterprise environments. Original Software provides a powerful all-in-one platform that combines test automation, manual testing, and test management—helping teams deliver quality software faster and with greater confidence. Unlike many tools that rely heavily on scripting or only support certain technologies, Original Software works seamlessly across your entire ecosystem, from legacy systems to the latest cloud applications. While other solutions exist, Original Software offers greater flexibility, faster implementation, and deeper visibility—making it the ideal choice for organisations that want to improve software quality while reducing testing effort.
Key Features That Set Original Software Apart
- Spot-the-Difference Testing – Instantly see everything that’s changed between versions, from spelling and imagery to broken links and system performance, without needing to predict what to test in advance.
- Self-Healing Scripts – Intelligent automation that adapts to software changes automatically, ensuring your tests keep running smoothly and stay updated for the next cycle.
- Application-Agnostic, End-to-End Testing – Test any activity, across any application—from legacy systems to cloud platforms—using a single, unified toolset.
- Effortless Baseline & Test Library Maintenance – Automatically update baselines and manage test libraries with minimal admin, even when software updates are frequent and fast-moving.
With Original Software, regression testing becomes faster, smarter, and easier to manage—helping QA teams, developers, and business users deliver better software with confidence.
FAQs
The main purpose is to ensure that existing functionality still works after changes are made to the code—whether that’s a bug fix, feature update, or system upgrade.
Regression testing should be run after every code change, especially before a release. It’s often integrated into CI/CD pipelines or scheduled to run overnight.
Traditionally the QA team, but in Agile environments it can involve developers, business users, or UAT testers depending on the workflow and tools used.
It can be both. However, due to its repetitive nature, regression testing is ideally suited for automation using tools like Original Software’s platform.
Retesting checks if a specific defect has been fixed. Regression testing checks whether any changes have broken existing functionality—even areas unrelated to the original fix.
A regression suite includes tests for high-risk, high-impact, and frequently used areas of your application—often built from real user journeys.
Focus on business-critical functions, areas frequently changed, and any past pain points. Our guide on how to build a regression test pack covers this step-by-step.
Not if it’s done right. With automation and intelligent tooling, regression testing can be fast, scalable, and even run in the background during overnight builds.
UAT validates whether the software meets business requirements. Regression testing ensures nothing else broke in the process. They serve different but complementary purposes.
While there are many options, Original Software offers an easy-to-use, no-code platform that captures, validates, and maintains regression tests without scripting.
