How Data Driven Testing Works

At many occasions, there are variety of data sets that we need to run equivalent tests on. And, to make a special test for every data set value is time-consuming and inefficient.

Data-Driven Testing overcomes this issue by keeping the information external to Functional tests and loading them when there's a requirement to extend the automation tests.

What Is Data-Driven Testing?

Data-Driven Testing could be an implementation plan and Test design where the test scripts read test information from a source of information (file or database) like ADO objects, ODBC sources, CSV files, etc. rather than using hard-coded values.

The setup and control of the test environment during this process aren’t hardcoded.

Data-Driven Script

Data-Driven Scripts are often defined as applications specific scripts (like JavaScript) coded and modified to accommodate variable datasets.

Some of the appearances of Data-Driven Scripts are:

1. Identification of Variable Data and Hard Coded elements:

If any Test scripts have hard coded elements, they separate application’s change. Therefore, find ways to incorporate variable data. However, not everything is often variable, so a data-driven script often consists of both variable and hard-coded areas. It is the potential of the automation tester to design scripts with the proper balance of both.

2. Duplicate Test Design:

All application designs are developed using scripting language in Data-Driven Scripts. Data-driven scripts are duplicated in the Selenium test script and manual test script to coincide references for both manual and automation testers.

Selenium Webdriver Data Driven Framework

1) Inputs and outputs are taken by Selenium Webdriver data-driven Framework from ODBC sources, CVS files and Excel files.

2) The framework includes navigation through a program, reading the information files, and logging test status.

3) The framework should have the following attributes:

• A large amount of data can be tested in very less time
• Easier, rapid and efficient analysis
• Easy debugging
• Well defined architectural design
• Robust, stable and reliable
• Easy script maintenance
• The script can be executed in multiple test environments

Advantages of Data-Driven Testing:

1. Possibility to make Test scripts at the coding stage of an application
2. Reduced redundancy and pointless duplication of test scripts
3. Creates test scripts with a small amount of code
4. All information like inputs, outputs, and therefore the expected result is stored within the type of appropriately managed text records
5. Provides flexibility in application maintenance

Disadvantages of Data-Driven Testing:

1. Requires great expertise of scripting language
2. Requires large no. of data files for every test suit with many inputs
3. For generating a new test case it necessitates a new driver script with different data such that the differences made to test case should reflect in the driver script or vice versa

Conclusion:

Data-Driven Testing helps automated tests to run quickly over an application with distinct input files and also gives wide-ranging to assure the performance of an application. Data-Driven Testing also enhances business intelligence by reducing risks, enabling simple access and sharing of information with real-time analysis. It accelerates the decision-making process and successively rapid automation testing. Quick navigation through data sets is additionally a crucial feature offered by Data-Driven Testing as it reduces testing timelines for an AUT.

A favorable combination, Selenium, and Javascript can be used to perform automated testing of applications. We are a Java Development Company with a focus on furnishing enterprises with the latest technological resources. Our extensive tech stack includes Java, Javascript, Node.js, Angular, Python, Springboot, Selenium, and more. We make use of Selenium for automating interaction with the browser in a data-driven testing environment. Get in touch with our team for Java Development Services.