Discussions

Baseline testing is a fundamental practice in software testing that focuses on establishing a stable reference point for system behavior and performance. This baseline typically represents an approved version of the application, where key metrics such as functionality, response time, and resource usage are known and documented. Once this reference is in place, future changes can be evaluated against it to identify unexpected deviations.

In day-to-day development, baseline testing is especially useful after major milestones like initial releases, significant feature additions, or infrastructure changes. By comparing new test results with the baseline, teams can quickly spot regressions or performance drops that may not be obvious through functional checks alone. This makes baseline testing valuable not just for functional validation, but also for performance and reliability assessment.

Another important aspect of baseline testing is traceability. Since the baseline is well-defined and approved, it provides a clear benchmark for stakeholders when discussing quality improvements or investigating issues. It also helps teams make data-driven decisions, as changes are measured against a known, trusted state rather than assumptions.