How to perform Database Unit Testing?

Testing a database is an important part of the software development process. When we talk about database testing, unit and schema testing is a must. But, how do you determine which tests to run on your database and which ones to skip? It is important to know why we can’t miss unit testing when we test the database and how you can do it.

Database testing can be done in two different ways. To verify the database data, you can either execute queries or manually check the database interaction. If you want to use the second method, you have to use the application like an end user, and this method will be simple if you feel like learning SQL queries are a nightmare. But we recommend you learn a database and queries, that will help you in another project testing.

To know more about it, please refer to the following link:

How to Test Database as Manual Tester – Manual Testing Tutorials

Unit testing basics

A unit test is a test that checks a small part of the code without affecting the rest of the code.

Consider, for example, a simple case. Let’s assume that we have a method named showPendingOrders, which takes one SQL query to fetch the records of the pending order from the order database table.

A unit test of this method would mean calling showPendingOrders and providing the status as pending as input and subsequently verifying that the result is not zero. We might then write another unit test of showPendingOrders without providing input and verify that the result is zero.

Why does the unit test your database?

Your database is important to your application as a whole. The principles of isolation and determinism are violated if the application code opens a file or connects to a database. So, you pretend those things don’t exist and don’t include them in your unit test suite.

Unit testing a database is not as common as unit testing application code, but it is doable. Let’s see how.

How to perform unit testing for databases?

A blank instance of the database can be created by the software testers if they want to start with minimal building blocks. Let’s see how testers can do unit testing on databases.

1. The first step is to make a blank database instance. You can modify items and add new ones until you have everything you need for the test.
2. We should explore ways to automate testing procedures to ensure that the database is in a known state before each test run and verify its current condition after each one.
3. You can also look for issues like missing references, which can happen if you accidentally remove or rename objects. This is often the result of a failed database update.
4. A test should be done to make sure that the database is restored when testing is done.

Databases, however, differ significantly from application code and require greater precision. They need to be tested sometimes to avoid data integrity breaches etc.

Properties of unit database testing

• It is possible to script a set of database operations with the same ease as executing code.
• Unit tests can be used to test individual triggers, views, and procedures. You can test the behavior of each one to ensure that it works as you want it to.
• Unit tests are a great way to test and make sure new code works before you use it.
• Unit tests can always give the same results. If every input is mapped into the test, you will have a clear idea of what outputs can be expected.
• Unit tests should not be dependent on each other. The test should not have any relationship with other unit tests, but you will have to manage some setup and teardown.

Database testing tools

Below are a few tools to help you start your research.

Apart from these, Some more tools are available like Aqua ALM, Data Factory, Mockup Data, Oracle SQL Developer, etc.

It’s worth doing database unit testing. Don’t allow your database to become a blind spot. Start taking advantage of your existing frameworks and tools to begin database unit tests now.

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