Backend testing is nothing but server side or database testing. The data entered in the front end will be stored in the back-end database. The database may be SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, DB2, etc. The data will be organized in the tables as record, and it is used to support the content of the page. Database testing mainly includes validating
- Schema
- Database tables
- Columns
- Keys and Indexes
- Stored procedures
- Triggers
- Database server validations
- Validating data duplication
In back end testing you are not required to use the GUI; you can directly pass the request through some browser with the parameters required for the function and get a response in some default format. E.g, xml or JSON. You also need to connect to database directly and verify the data using SQL queries. Through log files, debugging can be done.
Database or backend testing is important because if it is not done it has some serious complications like deadlock, data corruption, data loss, etc. There are various phases in back-end testing. The first step is to acquire design specification for an SQL server. The next step is to test specification design, followed by implementing the tests in this design with SQL code.
Types of database testing
The types of database testing includes
- Structural Testing
- Functional Testing
- Non-Functional Testing
Tools used for database testing
Some of the useful tools used for database testing includes
- Data Factory
- Data Generator
- Test Data Generator
- AETG
- TurboData
Advantages for back end testing
- Back end testing is not like a black box testing
- Full control of test coverage and depth
- In early development stage, many bugs can be effectively found
In order to do the back end testing, tester is expected to have strong background in database server and knowledge of structured query language.
Further Reading - /data-testing.html
