Retesting definition in software testing is as follows: It is a method in which we need to double-check specific test cases that have been identified as having flaws during execution. Retesting is also done when a product has already been tested but has to be retested owing to some issues. Retesting is the name given to this type of test.
Retesting is dependent on whether the development department accepts or rejects the bug. When a particular fault is found and the developer rejects it, the testing department must retest the issue. When a user reports a problem, the testing department must retest and correct the issue for a better application and process.
What is the meaning of “Retesting”?
Retesting is more of an informal term used in the industry and means testing a single module or a specific segment after it has been fixed, upon finding errors from a previous test. This test can be run multiple times to make sure the component is working properly.
Retesting does not address the effect of a fix, patch, or other change on other components in the system.
What is an example of retesting in software testing?
Take, for example, a Facebook page; we’ll need to create a Facebook account first. The user enters all of his or her personal information, such as name, date of birth, address, and school. The last step is to click the “Sign up” button after entering all of your information. The user discovers that the sign up button is not working when he or she clicks it. The user investigates the problem and reports it to the developer, who corrects it. After the problem has been fixed, the application is given to the tester for rechecking and processing. During this stage, the tester will just check the “Sign up” button; this is known as the “Sign up” procedure.
This is known as retesting.
Importance of retesting software
When a software flaw is discovered and patched, it’s critical to ensure that the solution works. Retesting is used in this situation. It’s a method that involves executing the same test cases that were used to find the issue in the first place to validate that the defect has been corrected. In terms of implementation, if the tests pass, the fix was successful.
Retesting is a crucial step in quality assurance that developers must take any time they repair a software fault. It would be beneficial to retest before regression testing, and the retest should be performed by the same tester who reported the fault.
There is a high probability that the final code will have requirement, design or functionality errors. Identifying these problems before they occur in a critical environment requires software testing, a very important but also very expensive part of the process; however, we must bear in mind that the cost of a failure while the software is running can be much higher.
Pros and cons of retesting
If you work as a software tester, you already understand the value of testing approaches. Do you, on the other hand, understand the benefits and drawbacks of retesting? They aid in determining if a software system produces the intended results. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of retesting can help you quickly improve the quality of your application.
So, are you interested in learning more about the advantages and disadvantages of retesting?
Advantages of retesting:
- It verifies that the problem has been resolved and that everything is operating as intended.
- It raises the application’s or product’s quality.
- It takes less time to verify because it is restricted to a single issue or feature.
- It does not require the creation of a new ecosystem. Retesting is carried out with the same data and in the same environment as before, but with a fresh build.
Disadvantages of retesting:
- A new build is required for verification of the defect.
- The test cases for retesting can be retrieved, only when the testing has begun, not before.
- The retesting test cases cannot be automated.
- Because of the re-execution of failed test cases, it necessitates more work and time.
Conclusion
If individuals are retesting older products, you may ask them to go over the original documentation and update it with any changes they notice. Keeping note of what the flaws were, how they were discovered, and what was done to remedy them is one of the most crucial components of retesting. It will be tough for you or your team to figure out what went wrong if one issue isn’t solved and instead new problems are produced by solving a different issue.
Though time-consuming, retesting is a vital element of software validation, and it’s especially beneficial when combined with other testing approaches. You can continue retesting on previous products as long as the issues discovered during the retest are rectified, to ensure that your recent work hasn’t created any problems.