Data-driven testing

Data-driven testing is a term used in the testing of computer software for the creation of re-usable test logic to reduce maintenance and improve test coverage. It is a methodology used in test automation where test scripts are executed and verified based on the data values stored in one or more central data sources or databases. Anything that has a potential to change (also called "Variability" and includes such as environment, end points, test data and locations, etc), is separated out from the test logic (scripts) and moved into an 'external asset'. This can be a configuration or test dataset. More data can later be added or the configuration changed to reuse the same test logic and execute multiple data scenarios.

Introduction

In the testing of software or programs, several methodologies are available for implementing this testing. Each of these methods co-exist because they differ in the effort required to create and subsequently m

Methodology Overview

• Data-driven testing is the creation of interacting test scripts together with their related data results in a framework used for the methodology. In this framework, variables are used for both input values and output verification values: navigation through the program, reading of the data sources, and logging of test status and information are all coded in the test script. The logic executed in the script is dictated by the data values.

For an example of data driven framework,please refer to http://muralikrishnapb-testautomation.blogspot.com/2010/08/data-driven-framework.html

• Keyword-driven testing is similar except that the test case is contained in the set of data values and not embedded or "hard-coded" in the test script itself. The script is simply a "driver" (or delivery mechanism) for the data that is held in the data source

The databases used for data-driven testing can include:-

• datapools
• ODBC source's
• csv files
• Excel files
• DAO objects
• ADO objects, etc.

See also

• Control table
• Keyword-driven testing
• Test Automation Framework
• Test-Driven Development
• Hybrid Automation Framework
• Data Driven Testing
• Meta Data Driven Testing
• Modularity-driven testing
• Hybrid testing
• Model-based testing

References

• Carl Nagle: Test Automation Frameworks[1], Software Automation Framework Support on SourceForge [2]