An Approach to Regression Test Selection Based on Hierarchical Slicing Technique

Abstract

Regression testing is an important stage of software maintenance. Regression test selection is a key technique to test case reuse. Program slicing is one of these commonly used regression test selection techniques. The proposed slicing techniques for regression test selection are primarily for procedural program. Hierarchy slice, which is used for object-oriented programs according to the logical hierarchy of program, is able to compute slice step by step based on hierarchical slicing criterion. Compared to traditional slicing, hierarchical slicing technique can produce more precise slice especially for object-oriented program. This paper applies hierarchical slicing technique to regression test selection in order to improve the precision of regression test selection and address the problem of level. The approach computes hierarchy slice on the modified parts of program, then selects test cases from different levels in terms of test case coverage. This approach can select test cases from high level to low level of program. The initial experimental results present the effectiveness of applying hierarchical slicing in regression test selection.