A Detailed Guide To Test Data Management

The process also provides an automated platform for storing these test cases and retrieving
them at an appropriate time when they are needed by the development team.
Test data management can be broken down into three main areas:
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Storage - The first step in managing test data is to store it in a location that makes it
easy to access. This means that you need to have a place where you can easily find
what you need at any time.
Organization - Once you've got your test data stored, it's time to organize it, so it's easy
for you to find what you're looking for when needed. This means creating labels, folders,
and records that make sense so that when you need something, it's there and easy to
find.
Retention - Finally, after all that work organizing your data, there will come a time when
some data needs to be discarded or archived. It's important that this happens as soon as
possible so that no one else has access to it except for those who need it for testing
purposes.
Test data management solutions can streamline the TDM process.
Also Read: Top 10 Benefits Of Test Automation
Challenges With Test Data Management
Test data management is a challenging process. The legacy processes associated with test
data management present the following challenges.
1. The need for accurate and consistent information about the test environment. This
includes data on hardware, software versions, and documentation of all changes made
to the environment.
2. The need for proper recording of test activities to ensure that they are logged accurately
and verifiable. This includes logging test results (e.g., run time, errors) along with any
actions taken as a result of those results (e.g., retries).
3. The need for accurate tracking of dependencies between tests so that when one test
fails, another will not fail as well due to missing or incomplete data from the first test run
or other reasons (e.g., timeouts).