Just as developers are human and error-prone, databases containing mission-critical information and lines of code on which applications are based are also error-prone and require regular maintenance and updates. The organization uses several applications that work on the database day after day, and these applications change according to needs, which affects database testing. The best way to ensure that these applications work properly is to test them regularly to learn about new features and changes in the database.
This is the whole point of regression testing.
Regression testing of a database refers to testing any new changes and updates in the database to maintain its integrity, even after modification.
When performing regression testing of a database, it is never pre-defined which part or which kind of database needs to be retested. All areas of the database are constantly being updated, and testers need to target these updates to make the most of their efforts. Generally, database testing includes the following:
- The incoming data value,
- Outgoing data value (generated for the original query (
- Database elements (tables, procedures (
- Web application metadata
- Data load that we call "load testing"
When performing regression testing on the database, if you are using one of the following black box or white-box testing , test your content as follows:
- Black box testing on the interface
- Action/response mapping (including metadata)
- Incoming data value
- Outgoing data value (from query, storage function, view.)
- Stored procedures and functions
- White box/clear box testing inside the database
- Database schema (tables, procedures, etc.). )
- trigger
- View constraints
- View definition
- Referential integrity rules
- The default value of the column
- Data invariants involving several columns
When you change something in an existing database or an application running on that database to refactor it or add new features, you need to make sure that nothing is broken. This requires you to perform regression testing to fix errors or roll back changes made in the database. Therefore, regression testing is usually performed after introducing changes in the database to check the behavior of the modified code. It requires hundreds of new tests to retest in order to check and correct newly written code and integration with other systems or applications.
If you work in an agile environment, you need to adopt a test first approach or test first development. In this regression testing method, you need to prepare parallel test code with development to test the business logic and forms, data validation rules, referential integrity, etc. implemented in the database. In the database, it works like the loop mentioned below:
- Add test
- Run your test
- Update code or make changes
- Run your test again
Real-time database synchronization
This is the most important question that testers think of when performing database regression testing. Regression testing can be performed manually and automatically.
A common practice in agile teams is that testers have their own "sandbox" to work with. A sandbox is basically a technical environment that isolates untested code from production repositories. Depending on the size of the test and the database, you can choose any one of them.
In my opinion, automated regression testing is more beneficial because it allows testers to test and manage large numbers of databases without manual intervention. In other words, it allows you to perform other tasks while the testing tool continues to work in the background, and send error reports (if any).
The automatic regression test of the database looks simpler and more convenient, and at the same time it improves the work efficiency of testers by saving a lot of time and bringing the following benefits:
- Automate the entire database regression testing process
- Reduce test workload by 50% to 75%
- Parallel testing and development
- Can achieve extensive test coverage
There are several test automation tools that can help perform regression testing. These automated tools help test teams quickly keep up with database regression testing requirements and overcome some of the challenges they face in manual testing.