What are some best practices for managing visual test baselines?

Managing visual test baselines effectively is crucial for ensuring that your visual testing is reliable and accurate. Keeping baselines updated and regularly reviewing them is essential because it allows teams to adapt to changes in the application’s interface or requirements. By frequently updating the baselines, teams can ensure that they reflect the current state of the application, accommodating any design changes or bug fixes.

Regular reviews of the baselines help identify any discrepancies or areas of concern that may arise over time, enabling early detection of potential visual defects. This practice fosters a proactive approach to visual testing, significantly reducing the risk of overlooking visual regressions and maintaining high-quality user experiences.

In contrast, other practices, such as infrequent reviews or limiting tests to major updates, may lead to outdated baselines that do not accurately represent the application's current state, which can result in missed visual issues. Relying solely on automated updates can also be problematic because it might not account for context or nuanced changes that require human judgment. Therefore, maintaining updated baselines through regular review is a foundational best practice in visual testing.