Method and system for webpage regression testing

Abstract

A regression testing system comprises an automatic test tool configured to capture a first web screen shot and a second web screen shot of a webpage, where the webpage has undergone an update or edit. The regression testing system also comprises a visual comparator configured to identify similar areas in the first web screen shot and the second web screen shot. The visual comparator receives, and compares characteristics of, the web screen shots. Furthermore, the regression testing system generates a report with marked different characteristics between the first and second web screen shots. The regression testing system identifies similar areas in the first and second web screen shots shot even if the similar areas are at different locations within the web screen shots. The comparison performed by the visual comparator includes performing a pixel comparison combined with a marking algorithm to group differences in smaller, related but separate areas.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 capturing, by a computer system, a first screen shot of a webpage;   capturing, by the computer system, a second screen shot of the webpage, wherein the second screen shot is captured after an update to the webpage has been implemented;   performing, by the computer system, a comparison of a first area of the first screen shot to a second area of the second screen shot; and   generating, by the computer system, a report based on the comparison, wherein the report indicates one or more discrepancies between the first screen shot at a first location of the first area and the second screen shot at a second location of the second area.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the comparison includes:
 identifying the first area of the first screen shot;   based on a comparison to the first area, iteratively shifting the second area of the second screen shot; and   in response to identifying a match between the first screen shot and the second screen shot, identifying the second location, wherein the second area of the second screen shot includes the second location.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first area is at a different location within the webpage than the second area. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the comparison comprises performing a pixel-to-pixel comparison of the first screen shot to the second screen shot. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising identifying a third area of the second screen shot, wherein the third area includes to a grouping of pixel discrepancies between the first screen shot and the second screen shot. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising, in response to identifying the third area, iteratively shifting the second area relative to the first screen shot. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising, subsequent to shifting the second area, in response to at least a particular number of pixel discrepancies, marking differences in the second screen shot. 
     
     
         28 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
 capturing a first screen shot of a webpage;   capturing a second screen shot of the webpage, wherein the second screen shot is captured after an update to the webpage has been implemented;   performing a comparison of the first screen shot to the second screen shot; and   generating a report based on the comparison, wherein the report indicates one or more discrepancies between the first screen shot at a first location and the second screen shot at a second location.   
     
     
         29 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein performing the comparison includes comparing visual changes between the first screen shot and the second screen shot. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein performing the comparison includes determining a percentage difference between the first screen shot and the second screen shot. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein generating the report includes indicating the percentage difference. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more discrepancies indicate a difference in one or more of the following characteristics: color, size, font, style, location, and value. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein generating the report comprises indicating a suggested color change for a portion of text on the webpage. 
     
     
         34 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory has stored thereon instructions executable by the system to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a first screen shot of a webpage; 
 receiving a second screen shot of the webpage, wherein the second screen shot is captured after an update to the webpage has been implemented; 
 performing a comparison of the first screen shot to the second screen shot; and 
 generating a report based on the comparison, wherein the report indicates one or more discrepancies between the first screen shot and the second screen shot. 
   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein generating the report includes generating a modified screen shot that visually indicates the one or more discrepancies. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the operations further comprise marking different characteristics between the first screen shot and the second screen shot, wherein the marking produces the modified screen shot. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein generating the report comprises identifying a type of change corresponding to at least one of the one or more discrepancies. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein performing the comparison includes:
 comparing a first rectangular area of the first screen shot to a second rectangular area of the second screen shot; and   determining a percentage difference between the first rectangular area and the second rectangular area.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein performing the comparison includes:
 determining a size of the first rectangular area; and   determining a size of the second rectangular area.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein determining the size of the second rectangular area includes performing a pixel comparison of the first rectangular area to the second rectangular area.