Baseline testing is a testing practice used to capture a stable and approved reference state of an application at a specific point in time. This reference represents expected functionality, performance levels, or system behavior that future builds can be compared against to detect deviations.
The primary purpose of baseline testing in software testing is to help teams understand the impact of changes introduced during development. By comparing new test results with the established baseline, it becomes easier to identify regressions, performance degradation, or unexpected side effects caused by updates, fixes, or configuration changes.
This approach is especially useful in environments with frequent releases, continuous integration, or performance sensitive systems. It provides objective data that supports release decisions and reduces reliance on assumptions or subjective judgment.
When used alongside regression and performance testing, baseline testing helps teams maintain consistency, manage risk, and ensure that software evolves without compromising stability or user experience.
