SQL Fundamentals for Test Professionals

Today's heterogeneous data environments place an increasingly heavy burden on test engineers.

Both Web and Client-Server applications must be tested for seamless interface with their respective backend databases.

It is imperative that the Tester knows how to create and use SQL, stored procedures, and other database objects to effectively test within data driven environments.

This course will teach the tester the basics of Structured Query Language for use in testing relational databases. Students will learn the SQL constructs and features necessary to formulate and implement test cases uncovering bugs in database systems causing data corruption. Common hacks for leaving databases vulnerable to attack will be covered including test cases for protecting against SQL Injection attacks.

Introduction

• The relational database
• What is SQL?
• What can / can't SQL do?
• Tables and columns
• Data types
• Nulls
• Tools for executing SQL
• The major DBMSs and their differences

Role of SQL in software testing

• Determining where data is stored
• Data model
• Entity relationship diagram
• Checking starting conditions
• Verifying data updates
• Using SQL vs using the application

Basic SELECT Statement

• Basic SELECT statement
• Comparison operators
• Combining predicates

Additional SELECT Components

• Primary & foreign keys
• Joining tables
• Cartesian join
• Ordering data
• Aggregate / Group functions
• Grouping data