What Is regression testing and why It matters (How to catch bugs before they come back to haunt you)

You fixed that bug two sprints ago—so why is your customer seeing it again in production?
Welcome to the world of regression bugs.

Every time your team releases new code, you run the risk of accidentally breaking something that previously worked.
That’s why regression testing is such a critical part of modern QA.

What Is regression testing?

Let’s start with the basics: What is regression testing?

Regression testing is the process of re-running previously completed tests to ensure that recent code changes haven't reintroduced old bugs.
It’s a safety net that catches unexpected side effects from new features, refactors, or bug fixes.

Whenever you:

• Add a new feature
• Fix an existing bug
• Refactor existing code
• Upgrade dependencies

…it’s time to run your regression suite.

Why regression testing matters

You’ve probably heard the phrase “move fast and break things.”
Without regression testing, you’re just breaking things.

Here’s why it’s essential:

✅ Protects core functionality – Keeps your product stable as it evolves

✅ Builds customer trust – No one wants to report the same bug twice

✅ Supports faster releases – Confidence in regression tests means fewer surprises in production

✅ Saves time and money – Catching regression bugs early is cheaper than fixing them post-launch

Manual vs. automated regression testing

There are two main ways to handle regression testing:

Manual regression testing

• Testers re-check key flows by hand
• Useful for UI/UX validation and edge cases
• Time-consuming and harder to scale

Automated regression testing

• Scripts rerun tests quickly and consistently
• Ideal for stable flows and large test suites
• Faster feedback loops in CI/CD pipelines

In most teams, a combination works best: automation for the repetitive stuff, manual QA for complex or evolving areas.

When should you run regression tests?

Regression testing should happen:

• Before every major release
• After bug fixes or hotfixes
• After merging big feature branches
• Anytime production has had stability issues

Some teams run full regression suites nightly or before every deploy. Others use targeted “smoke” regression tests focused on high-risk areas.

There’s no one-size-fits-all—but skipping regression is never a good idea.

Common regression testing challenges

Even if you have a process in place, regression testing isn’t always smooth. Common pain points include:

• Test maintenance overhead – Keeping tests up-to-date
• False positives/negatives – Tests that fail for the wrong reasons
• Inconsistent bug reporting – Regression bugs can be tricky to reproduce
• Lack of time before release – Rushing QA means missing hidden breakages

That’s why having the right tools makes a big difference.

How re:bug helps you catch regression bugs (Before users do)

Even the most robust test suite won’t catch everything—so when regression bugs slip through, you need a fast, clear way to report them. That’s where re:bug comes in.

With re:bug, your team can:

• Instantly capture and annotate screenshots when a regression occurs
• Add clear reproduction steps and environment info
• Mark issues as regression bugs for tracking and prioritization
• Send reports directly into Jira or your email

Whether your testing is manual, automated, or hybrid—re:bug helps you close the loop faster and with less back-and-forth.

No more guesswork. Just clean, actionable bug reports your developers will thank you for.

Final Thoughts

Regression testing is one of the most important tools in your QA toolbox.
It protects your product, your users, and your sanity.

So the next time you fix a bug, remember: fixing it once isn’t enough. Make sure it doesn’t come back.
And if it does?
Make sure you’re using re:bug—to report it the right way.