What is the difference between functional testing and regression testing?

Functional Testing vs Regression Testing

In software testing, Functional Testing and Regression Testing are two important types of testing that serve different purposes.

Functional Testing

Functional Testing is a type of testing that focuses on ensuring that the software functions as intended. It involves testing each functionality of the software to validate if it meets the specified requirements. Functional Testing is typically black-box testing where the internal code is not visible to the tester. The main goal of Functional Testing is to verify that the software behaves correctly according to the functional specifications.

Regression Testing

Regression Testing, on the other hand, is a type of testing that is performed to ensure that new code changes in the software do not adversely affect the existing functionalities. It involves re-testing the already tested parts of the software to check if any new bugs have been introduced due to the code changes. Regression Testing helps in maintaining the overall quality of the software and ensuring that it continues to work as expected after modifications.

Differences

The main difference between Functional Testing and Regression Testing lies in their objectives. While Functional Testing focuses on verifying the functionality of the software, Regression Testing is aimed at ensuring that the software remains stable after changes. Another key difference is that Functional Testing is typically performed during the initial stages of testing, whereas Regression Testing is done throughout the software development lifecycle, especially after code changes.

Both Functional Testing and Regression Testing are essential in ensuring the quality and reliability of software applications.