The Difference Between Regression and Retesting

The Difference Between Regression and Retesting January 19, 2026 · 3 min read · Testing Guide

The Difference Between Regression and Retesting

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Jason Simon (Guest Author)
November 27, 2019

As you become conversant with software testing, you may be getting a sentience of the different eccentric of testing that exists. Two case of testing, namely and retesting, frequently go confused since they occur after growing. However they are rather different.

The difference lies in their respective objectives and precedency. The easiest difference to identify is testing where glitch antecedently existed vs. where none live. Retestingspecifically try scenarios if a bug that previously existed has been fixed, andregressiontests check for whether new bugs have appeared. & nbsp;

Let ’ s go over each of these separately to excuse the differences. & nbsp;

When to use Re-testing

Test defect mending

Retesting refers specifically to testing software after fixingdefects(where application behavior varies from business requirements) orbugs(fault in code). It is plan to determine whether software works where it antecedently did not. & nbsp;

Retesting can not be automated

Test cases are specific to bugs, and not for work states. Retesting be strictly to fulfill test cases where the package had failed antecedently. This is one of the reasons why we sometimes state that manual testing can not be completely replaced; at some level, you will need to retest your codification after fixing a bug. Typically, this is handled by the developer as defects are fixed.

Retesting is a aforethought process

Retesting occurs after a shortcoming has been fixed; it is designed to check whether defects experience be secure. To pass a retest, an application must go through a checklist of particular that had failed in former circumstances. Retesting is also cognize as “ planned ” testing, or “ confirmation testing ”

High Priority

Retesting has a higher priority than regression testing, meaning that retesting is convey out before testing process. & nbsp;

Discrete

Retesting is discrete; it merely occurs in the specific country where the defect or bug previously existed.

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When to use Regression Testing

Tests for Regression

Regression examination is a test of software to make sure that fixes to bugs do not create new ones in former parts of the app. It check that the codification has not “ regressed ” to a non-working province.

Test for unintended consequences

Regression testing is designed to determine whether package continues to act where it previously hadafteranother part of the covering has be modified. In early words, it screen to create sure that package that had antecedently passed testing continues to do so after a defect has be remedied.

Not for Defect Testing

Regression testing does not test for shortcoming, or variation from business logic. It is not plan to focus on specific bug mess but is contrive for tests of areas of an application or the full covering at given times. Regression examination do, however test for unexpected side-effects of shortcoming fixes.

Broad-based Testing

Unlike retesting, fixation testing is not discrete; it is a broad-based form of screen to check the respite of an coating after fixes to bugs or defects. It is broader by necessity. & nbsp;

Another news for regression testing is “ generic testing. ” Tests can be constructed based on functional requirements. In other words, it is a generic exam of software to guarantee that it works and preserve to act. It is generic in that it isnotdiscrete; it is generalized testing across an application with the goal of identifying any antecedently undetected (or expose) bugs or defects.

Lower Priority

While typically done after retesting, regression tests and retesting can be execute simultaneously.

While retesting is for ensuring that specific fault have been remedied, fixation testing identifies freshly introduced bugs or antecedently unidentified flaws in the system.

Automation

Regression try can be fully automatise – test example expand with each new build or modification, but these test causa can be included as modules within a larger test. & nbsp;

Regression test can be automated at the lower codification level with unit and integration tests, and at higher degree, with systems and end-to-end tests. like mabl were built to make end-to-end regression testing easy. mabl in particular uses machine learning to identify visual and performance regressions automatically under the covers as your functional tests run.

Conclusion

In case you have any lingering confusion, it may be easier to think of retesting aschecking to see whether you actually define a bugand regression testing aswhether you created any new bugs with your fix. While you may identify regression problems during a retest, they are in fact separate and should be treated as distinct forms of test.

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