Integration Testing vs Regression Testing

Integration testing and regression testing are two important types of software testing that serve different purposes in the development process:

Integration Testing

Integration testing focuses on verifying the interactions between different components or modules of a software system. It ensures that various parts of the application work together correctly when combined. This type of testing is typically performed after unit testing and before system testing, as it checks the flow of data and functionality between integrated units.

Regression Testing

Regression testing, on the other hand, aims to ensure that new changes or additions to the codebase do not negatively impact existing functionality. It involves re-running previously executed tests to verify that the software still performs as expected after modifications have been made.

Key differences

Purpose: Integration testing validates the flow of data between modules, while regression testing checks if new changes affect existing features.

Timing: Integration testing is usually done earlier in the development process, after unit testing but before user acceptance testing. Regression testing can be performed at any stage when changes are made to the software.

Scope: Integration tests focus on specific interfaces between components, whereas regression tests cover a broader range of functionality across the entire application.

Test cases: Integration tests are designed to check specific interactions between modules, while regression tests often reuse existing test cases to ensure overall system stability.

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Both types of testing are crucial for maintaining software quality and can be used in conjunction to ensure a robust and reliable application.