What does "regression test" mean in programming?

regression test is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.

Definition

A test that verifies that a previously working feature still works after a code change. Regression tests guard against introducing old bugs back into the codebase. Running the full regression suite before a release confirms that nothing was accidentally broken.

Example

"We added a regression test for the bug that let users check out with an empty cart — it will catch that bug if it ever returns."

Related terms

unit test
end-to-end test
code coverage
flaky
CI/CD

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