What Is Test Data?

Test data includes input values, configurations, and other data used to perform software testing. It aims to cover various scenarios, ensuring comprehensive testing and validation of the application’s functionality.

Test data can be generated manually or using automated tools. Automated methods include using data generation tools, scripting languages, or leveraging built-in features of testing frameworks to create realistic and diverse test datasets.

Test data management involves creating, maintaining, and controlling the data used in testing. Techniques include data anonymization, data masking, and creating realistic datasets to ensure effective and secure testing.

Test data can be gathered through various methods, including manually creating datasets, extracting data from production environments, or using automated tools to generate realistic test scenarios.

Test data can be maintained by using version control, creating data subsets for specific test cases, and regularly refreshing or resetting data to ensure test repeatability and consistency.