Database Testing

Need for development of database

Disadvantage of file
– No data type support
– Retrieving and searching for data is
time consuming
– Memory won’t be allocated
dynamically
– Supports limited information
– Poor security
– Data can’t be shared by multiple users
and platforms
Models of database
HDBMS – main disadvantage is
data redundancy
NDBMS – if data is misplaced once,
it is difficult to find it
RDBMS
Features :
– Information represented in row
column format
– Low data redundancy
– No physical link is used
– Supports integrity constraints, Cudd’s
rules, null values
– Provides high security
– Data can be shared by multiple users
and platforms
ORACLE
Datatypes:
– Simple
– Composite
– LOB’S – Large objects,
max size is 4GB
– Diff types of LOB’S
• CLOB
• BLOB
• NCLOB
• BFILE
Supports
Five sub languages
– DDL - Used to change/remove DB
objects
– DML – Used to insert/modify/remove
rows/data
– DQL/DRL – Used to retrieve data in read only
mode
– DCL – Used to control flow of information
between users
– TCL – Used to save/cancel changes made by
DML statements
NULL
Undefined
Incomparable
Not equal to 0 or space
Any arithmetic operation with null
returns null values
Every RDBMS package supports
null values
It is not case sensitive
Special Operators
 IN – used to pick values one by one specified in the range
 Between – Inclusive operator
 LIKE – Used to search for pattern valid for character values
only.
– % - Represents more than one character
– _ - Represents single character

 IS NULL – Used to compare null values

FUNCTIONS
 Arithmetic function
 Character function
 Date Function
 Aggregate Function
 General Function
JOINS
Used to retrieve data from more
than one table at a time
Types of JOINS:
– Equi Join
– Non Equi / Cartesian Join
– Outer Join
– Self Join
SET Operator
Used to join the outputs of select
statements
Similar data type columns and
equal number of columns must be
specified in Select statement
Types:
– UNION ALL
– UNION
– INTERSECT
– MINUS
Sub Query or Nested Query

 Special operators used with sub queries

– EXISTS
– ANY or SOME
– ALL

CORRELATED SUB QUERY

Integrity Constraints
 A set of predefined rules can be applied on tables while
creating or after creation
 Automatically activated when DML statements are
performed on table
 Provides high security
 If rules are satisfied, transactions are accepted else
rejected
 Not Null
 Unique
 Default
 Check
 Primary Key
 Reference
Types:
– Column Constraint Syntax:
• Ex:- Create table Dept (deptno number(4)
primary key, dname varchar2(20) unique
not null, LOC varchar2(20) default ‘HYD’)

– Table Constraint Syntax:

• Ex:- Create table Dept (deptno number(4),
dname varchar2(20) not null, LOC
varchar2(20) default ‘HYD’, constraint
pk_deptno primary key (deptno))
Database Objects
Tables – Used to store and
manipulate data
Views and Synonyms – Used to
manipulate data
Sequence – Used to generate serial
no automatically
Index and Cluster – Used to
improve performance
VIEWS
It is a virtual component which
holds select statements in it’s
memory
It’ll not hold data
DESC, Select and DML statements
are allowed on views
Stored permanently in database in
table “user_views”
Can share with other users
Synonyms
 Hides original name and owner of database
objects
 DESC, Select and DML statements allowed
 It’ll not hold data
 Can share with other users

 TYPES:
– Private
– Public
Sequence
Used to generate numbers
automatically
Not related to any table
Uses two pseudo columns
– Nextval : Holds the next value to be
generated
– Currval: Hold the previous value
INDEX
 It is activated when indexed column is used in
“where” clause
 Used to improve performance while retrieving
or manipulating records
 Holds the physical address of data
 It is like a C pointer which locates the data

 TYPES :
– Composite Index
– Unique Index
CLUSTERS
Used to improve performance
while manipulating related tables
It holds the common column
available in two tables
Not allowed on existing tables
LOCKS
Used preserve data while
manipulating
TYPES :
– Implicit
– Explicit
• Row Level
• Table Level
– Share Mode
– Share Update Mode
– Exclusive Mode
PL / SQL
Supports variables and constants

Support executing more than one

statement as one unit

Supports conditional constructs

Supports error handling

CURSOR
It is temporary memory location
used to hold transactional data
It’ll not store data permanently
Valid in a PL/SQL block only
TYPES :
– Explicit Cursor
– Implicit Cursor
EXCEPTIONS
PL/SQL Errors
Used to trap an exception and
provide some solution
TYPES :
– Pre Defined
– User Defined
TRIGGERS
 A set of PL/SQL statements automatically
activated whenever and event raising statement
is executed
 Stored permanently in database
 Advantage :
– Used to impose user defined restrictions on table
– Provides high security while manipulating tables
Parts :
Triggering event : Indicates when to activate the trigger
Trigger Type : Trigger will activate n times if n rows are
manipulated by DML statements
 Trigger Restrictions: Indicates when to deactivate the
trigger
 Trigger Body : A set of PL/SQL statements

PACKAGES :
 It is a collection of related variables, cursors, procedures
and functions
 Advantages :
– Improves performance while accessing subprograms from
client
– Stored permanently
Parts :
– Package specifications : Holds component
declarations available in package
– Package Body : Holds the body of procedures and
functions