What is the Purpose of Regression Testing in Software Development?

Regression testing in software development fulfills a variety of important roles:

• Detection of Unexpected Defects: Identifies new bugs introduced after code changes while ensuring existing functionality remains intact.
• Stability of Software: Confirms that the software continues to function correctly and remains stable after modifications or integrations.
• Mitigation of Risks: Prevents code changes from negatively impacting existing features, reducing the likelihood of costly production defects.
• Support of Agile Development: Facilitates faster product delivery by detecting defects early, aligning with Agile methodologies.
• Validation of Interacting Systems: Ensures that software components continue to work together as expected, minimizing performance issues and incompatibilities.

Overall, regression testing is needed to ensure that aspects of software quality and reliability continue to be maintained as software is developed.