HOW TO ENSURE QUALITY OF TEST DATA!

Test data helps us examine a software application and determine its functionality. The data used to test the features of a newly developed software program is simply, thus, called test data. It helps identify bugs provided it is properly designed. If the test data itself is faulty or of low quality, it will not do a good job identifying bugs and testing features. Needless to say, it will directly affect the quality of the software.

Generation of Test Data

Since the test data determines the quality of software testing and the development of the software application, you need to keep a close eye on its generation. Generation depends on the type of testing environment and software to be tested. It can be done in different ways:

1. Manually
2. Using automated test data generation tools
3. Mass copy of test data taken from client systems
4. Mass copy of test data from production to testing environment

Please keep in mind that test generation is quite complicated and requires time. In fact, in most cases, test generation takes a lot more time than the testing itself. However, it is mandatory that you pay close attention to this step because it will affect the quality of test data, thereby affecting the software quality.

Ensuring Quality of Test Data:

White Box Testing

For this type of testing, the test data can be extracted from the code directly. The quality can be ensured considering the following:

1. All program source code branches should be tested at least once.
2. All paths must be tested at least once.

Black Box Testing

Since the tester cannot see the code in this case, certain criteria should be met in order to confirm quality of the test data.

1. No data: Do not submit any data (blank data) and see whether the system responds with error messages.
2. Valid data: Submit valid data and see if it is being saved. Also check if the system is functioning as expected.
3. Invalid data: Submit invalid data to ensure proper behavior for alphanumeric inputs and negative values.
4. Illegal data format: The system should generate error messages and refuse to accept the data format.
5. Boundary condition data: This will help identify response to lower and upper boundary conditions.
6. Performance, load, and stress testing data: This data set will be voluminous and will help you determine the efficiency of the test data.

Security Testing

Security testing revolves around protection against malicious content. The test data designed to test security software must satisfy the following:

1. Confidentiality
2. Authenticity
3. Integrity
4. Authorization

Likewise, parameters to ensure the quality of test data vary with the software application. If the applications are complicated, going with automated test generation tools is the safest way to guarantee quality. As aforementioned, it is the quality of the test data that will influence the quality of the software. That is why putting it under the microscope is highly recommended.