A Guide to Database Testing

Database testing involves checking database performance, performing data validity, and testing data integrity. It also monitors functions, procedures, and triggers in the database. Several stages, processes, and tools are used in database testing. Aside from this, powerful Sales Intelligence is another important tool that you must secure, especially if you are capitalizing much on the selling cycle.

Reasons for Database Testing

Database testing should be performed because the backend system stores large amounts of data. This data is also used for multiple purposes. Below are reasons why database testing is necessary.

  • The procedures involved in storage and views are critical. They include clients’ details such as contact information, names, and sales data. Thus, these tasks should be tested frequently after every few levels.
  • Database backend receives several calls. Database testing helps to ease any complications as most developers concentrate on stored procedures and views.
  • Black-box testing is vital at the front-end. However, this testing doesn’t eliminate the problem. That’s why database testing must be performed at the backend system to enhance the data’s robustness.
  • Incorrect or harmful data could be stored in the database because data is sent from multiple applications. Therefore, database components, data consistency, and integrity need to be checked regularly.

Differences Between Database Testing and Front-End Testing

  • Database testing is also known as backend testing or data validation and integrity testing, while front-end testing is also known as GUI testing, UI testing, or application testing.
  • In database testing, backend components that aren’t visible to users are tested. In front-end testing, it involves checking how various applications function. It also involves checking their multiple elements such as reports, graphs, menus, and forms.
  • The database components in backend testing include systems such as Oracle and My SQL. In contrast, components developed created by developers in front-end testing include tools such as C#, VB.net, and Delphi.
  • In database testing, a tester should have complete knowledge of the database concept such as indexes, good hands-on SQL, keys, procurers, and functions to perform the test. To perform front-end testing, a tester should understand various things such as the application functionality, coding, and business requirements.

Database Testing Types

Database testing is divided into three categories depending on the structure and function of a database. The database testing types include;

Structural Database Testing

In this testing type, the only components of the database verified aren’t exposed to end-users. Administrators should perform this test with good command of concepts such as procedures stored in SQL. Various components tested in structural database testing include schema or mapping testing, checking triggers, stored procedures and views testing, and table and column testing.

Functional Testing

Functional testing involves checking whether the end user’s operations and transactions satisfy the business specifications. The standard tests include white box testing and black-box testing. This testing type has few advantages, including affordability in the development of test-cases. Again, it’s simple as it’s performed in the early development stages.

Nonfunctional Testing

It involves risk finding, load testing performance, minimum system check. It ensures meeting business specifications, stress testing, and database performance optimization. The chief aim of load testing is to check if running transactions meet the database’s performance impact.  However, the performance of stress testing identifies the breakpoint of a database system.

Database Testing Tools

A database can be tested using database automation testing tools. These tools include IBM Rational Functional Tester (RFT), Appium, Selenium, and HPE Unified Functional Testing (UFT). However, vendors provide various tools used in the generation of Test data, managing test data, and performing database testing such as Regression Testing and Load Testing. Below are the common tools used divided into various categories and descriptions.

1. Load Testing Tools

They include tools such as Rad View, Mercury, and Web Performance. These tools are used to ensure that the database has high usage loads. This helps to determine whether the system’s landscape can outlast the business needs.

2. Data Security Tools

They include tools such as IBM Optim Data Privacy. Data security tools are used to ensure that users comply with the standards in each information security regulations.

3. Test Data Management Tool

These tools maintain the test data’s test control. The tester must describe the expected results that are later compared to the confirmed test results. They include tools such as IBM Optim Test Data Management.

4. Test Data Generator Tools

These tools are used to generate database systems’ test data. They are significant, especially when there are vast amounts of data and a sample is required to perform database testing. They are mostly used for Stress and Load testing.

5. Tools to Perform Unit Testing

They include tools such as DBUnit, DBFit, SQLUnit, and TSQLUnit. These tools are used to carry out regression testing on a database.

Database Testing Processes

The database testing process is another application testing. It can be described using the following key processes.

  • Prepare the environment
  • Running a test
  • Checking the test result
  • Support according to the expected results
  • Present the findings to the responsible shareholders

To develop Test cases, several SQL statements are used. The select statement is the commonly used SQL statement to perform database testing. Other statements used include DCL, DML, and DDL.

Database Testing Stages

Various stages are used in database testing, and the testing process is simple. The primary steps in database testing include;

  • Confirming the initial state
  • Running a test
  • Proofing of the outcome as per the expected result
  • Results generation

The first stage in database testing involves checking the initial database state. The tester can then begin the testing process. Later, database behavior is tested to obtain classified test cases. According to the results found, test cases are modified. Workflow is carried out on each test to ensure that the database testing is a success. It includes;

  • Cleaning the database. This helps to empty any testable data in the database.
  • Setting up a fixture. It involves feeding data into the database to identify the current performance of the database.
  • Perforin, a test, verifying the results and generating the results. After a Test is run, the output is determined. If the results found in the output are the expected ones, the results are generated as per the requirements. Testing is done several times to identify any bugs in the database.

Database testing should be carried out correctly in every stage to obtain the actual results. However, it should be done repeatedly to check and eliminate any bugs found. Despite the database testing types and tools the tester is using; the database testing should be successful.