Database Testing: Practical Tips & Necessary Insights

Database testing is one of the most crucial parts of software testing today. The database includes the most vital element in any application development and to assure that the data being used is correct, sorted, free from errors and incorporates all the necessary elements that you may need throughout your application is required for a developer to create a smooth functioning and effective application in future.

Today the complexity of applications has been developed to a great extent. Therefore, a stronger and more secure database is needed for your applications to be successful.

Currently, there are a number of Database Testing tools available in the market that can perform this process of database testing easier and much faster by automating the entire process preserving you a lot of time in testing. These tools incorporate Oracle 10g, MS SQL Server 2008 r2, PostgreSQL, MS-Access2010, Oracle Financial, MySQL,  DB2, etc. 

All About Database Testing

Database testing is a layered process that involves a user interface, business layer, data access, and the database layer itself. The User interface trades with the design of the database whereas the business layer comprises the supporting business procedures. Each of these layers operates collaboratively to present complete and fully responsive applications. It’s a type of software testing that verifies the schema, tables, triggers, etc. of the database being tested. It examines data integrity and consistency and includes creating complex queries to load/stress test the database and review its responsiveness to different scenarios.

Why should you opt for Database Testing?

Database testing assures the validity of data values and information acquired and stored in a database. It serves to save data loss, saves aborted transaction data, and no unauthorized access to the data is provided with it. It is essential for software testing therefore, testers must have a good understanding of SQL for database testing to start with.

• Database testing helps avoid hidden errors in an application. Recognizing these faults is integral to testing as this assures any possibilities of data loss, incomplete or inaccurately stored data before running it into your systems
• The GUI is the most crucial part of an application. Proper database testing ensures that the database that’s included within the app and seems on the GUI is validated for a smooth user experience
• Proper database testing can help decrease the number of backend calls one may get in case of queries from the end-user
• It also assures that no harmful or incorrect data is saved at the backend of your application

Database Testing Categories 

Database Testing can be classified into 7 major categories:

 1. Metadata testing

Metadata testing is done to check that the table definitions used in the case conform to the data model and application design specifications specified in the beginning. 

 2. Data Quality Testing

Data quality test helps check the accuracy and quality of the data used. It’s often done by data profiling that helps recognize any quality issues in the production system once the application has been given life for a little while.  

 3. Reference Data Testing

There are instances when users come across fields including values not found in the valid set. This occurs when database fields include a limited set of enumerated values. Reference data testing is used to check such data tabs.

 4. Database Procedure Unit Testing

You can always have database systems with business logistics in an app. You must examine the database system structure and receive test data from the program logic as an included part of the white box testing process.  

5. Database Regression Testing

Database regression testing is done to recognize any issues that might happen due to changes in the database metadata, methods, or system upgrades in your application.

6. Database Integration Testing

The whole idea of integration testing is to verify that the database tables and procedures are becoming populated with the expected data based on input presented in the application while being tested from the UI.

Database Testing Process

Below mentioned is the step-by-step process used for smooth Database Testing:

1. Identify the Scope

Before beginning any testing process the first step is to identify what all requires to be covered in the testing process. The primary thing to recognize the data set that impacting the performance of your application the most. Based on these identifications, several aspects like data verification, schema verification, health checks, database guideline checks, security checks, etc. are achieved.

2. Set up the Testing Environment

The next step is to build a functioning testing environment for the method to be carried out with ease.

3. Create a Test Scenario

This step involves creating test cases for conducting the test. It requires different inputs and different transactions related to the database.

4. Execute Test

In this step, the test codes described in the testing process are executed.

5. Analyze

Following the execution process, this process involves analyzing all the outputs obtained in an orderly manner that allows valuable conclusions that can be applied to the decision-making process for the future.

6. Report defects and monitor

The next step is to identify any trends that can be selected from the analyses of your test results and making certain tweaks and fixes to the scripts to be able to evade making the same mistakes twice. Including this as a continuous practice in your test regime can end in recognizing any particular pattern (if exists) in the testing method and address then in advance.

7. Test Script Reuse

Once the defects have been recognized and a pattern has been found in your test script, the same script can be reused for regression test execution. You can utilize a previously tweaked test code and if possible, schedule the execution of the test at a specified period to operate it as and when required.

8. Cross-checking with UI Test Report

Last but not the least, in this step the database testing results are crosschecked with the UI testing to match the results before proceeding further.

Conclusion

Here we have specifically talked about the basics of all you require to know about database testing and why you should be incorporating it in your application testing process. It is necessary to note that though some may see it as a tiresome method that increases bottlenecks into the application testing timeline, database testing can assist avoid a lot of hidden errors in your data that can possibly hinder the overall user experience of a customer.

Having understood the complex requirement of database testing in the app testing method, for you as a business owner,  it’s necessary to approach the right software testing service provider that’s sufficient enough to give detailed testing results, follows the right procedure, and addresses all minor major details to give you advanced testing services for your future projects. Contact TestUnity for your next application testing requirements. Schedule a call now!!

TestUnity

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