Data, Database, and Database Testing
Data, Database, and Database Testing, What is Data?, Basic Data Types, What is Database?, SQL Databases, NoSQL Databases. and Database Testing.
What is Data?
Facts and Statistics collected together for reference or analysis.
We use different types of data in our life to identify or calculate or store different types of information.
Like humans, Software systems too, use data types to store and process different types of information.
Data has two basic formats, File format, and Table format. Both are important, we use Table format for storing relational data, and file format for nonrelational data.
Some common types of Data:
1) Number
2) Text
3) Single character
4) Boolean (true or false)
5) Picture / Image
6) Sound
7) Video
What is Database?
A database is an organized collection of structured information, or data, typically stored electronically in a computer system.
Data within the most common types of databases in operation today is typically modeled in rows and columns in a series of tables to make processing and data querying efficient.
Types of Databases:
There are many different types of databases, in which two types of databases are important.
The best database for a specific organization depends on how the organization intends to use the data.
Two important types of Databases:
1. SQL Databases
2. NoSQL Databases
SQL / Relational Databases:
Considered the most mature of all databases, these databases lead in the production line along with their management systems. In this database every piece of information has a relationship with every other piece of information.
Example: MS Access, MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, Sybase, DB2 etc.
NoSQL Databases :
A NoSQL originally referring to non SQL or not only SQL or nonrelational is a database that provides a mechanism for storage and retrieval of data. This data is modeled in means other than the tabular relations used in relational databases.
Document database, object database, and graph databases are common NoSQL databases.
Example: MongoDB, CouchDB, Redis, Cassandra, etc.
Big Data:
Big data is a term used to describe a collection of data that is huge in size and yet growing exponentially with time.
Big data is a combination of structured, semistructured and unstructured data
Examples of Big Data generation include stock exchanges, social media sites, jet engines, etc.
What is Database Testing?
Database Testing is a Test Type in which Data manipulations, Data Integrity, Data Comparison etc… Operations can be verified.
Database testing includes performing data validity, data integrity, performance check related to database, testing of procedures, triggers, and functions in the database.
Types of Database Testing:
i. Structural Database Testing
ii. Functional Database Testing
iii. Non-functional Database Testing
Aspects of Database Testing:
i. Check Database Schema
ii. Check Database Tables and Columns
iii. Check Keys and indexes
iv. Check Stored procedures
v. Check Database Triggers
vi. Check Data Validity
vii. Check Data integrity
viii. Check Data consistency
ix. Data Load Testing
x. Data Stress testing
etc…
Database Testing vs. ETL Testing:
Both ETL testing and database testing involve data validation, but they are not the same.
ETL testing is done before data is moved to production data warehouse systems. It is to ensure that the data which has been loaded from a source to destination after transformation is accurate.
Database Testing is a Test Type in which Data manipulations, Data Integrity, Data Comparison etc… Operations can be verified.
Conclusion:
Nowadays both SQL and NoSQL databases are important, Banking systems, Insurance systems, ERP systems, and ECommerce systems, etc. use SQL / Relational Databases.
Social networking systems like FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube use SQL, and NoSQL databases to store their business information.
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