Database Testing Checklist

Your database is the foundation your entire app is built on. AI-generated database code often has missing indexes, incorrect relationships, and no migration strategy. This checklist ensures your data layer is solid, performant, and recoverable.

Last updated: 2026-03-14

Data Integrity

Foreign key relationships are enforced

Attempt to create records with invalid foreign keys and verify the database rejects them rather than creating orphaned data.

Unique constraints prevent duplicate data

Attempt to insert duplicate values in uniquely constrained columns and verify the operation fails with a clear error.

Required fields cannot be null

Try inserting records with null values in required columns and verify the database enforces NOT NULL constraints.

Cascade deletes work correctly

Delete a parent record and verify that related child records are handled correctly, either cascaded or prevented.

Data types match the stored values

Verify that dates store as dates, numbers as numbers, and that no implicit type conversions corrupt data.

Query Performance

Frequently queried columns are indexed

Identify columns used in WHERE, JOIN, and ORDER BY clauses and verify appropriate indexes exist.

No N+1 query patterns exist

Monitor queries during list page loads and verify that related data is fetched with joins, not individual queries per item.

Slow queries are identified and optimized

Enable query logging and identify any query taking longer than 100ms to verify it is optimized or acceptable.

Pagination queries are efficient

Verify that paginated queries do not scan the entire table and that performance remains stable on large datasets.

Migrations and Schema

Migration scripts run without errors

Run all migration scripts in sequence on a fresh database and verify they complete without errors.

Rollback migrations work correctly

Roll back each migration and verify the database returns to its previous state without data loss or corruption.

Schema matches the application models

Compare database columns with application model definitions to verify they are in sync.

Seed data loads correctly

Run seed scripts and verify that initial data is created correctly and does not conflict with existing records.

Backup and Recovery

Database backups run on schedule

Verify that automated backups are configured and executing at the scheduled interval.

Backups can be restored successfully

Restore a backup to a test environment and verify all data is intact and the application works correctly.

Point-in-time recovery is possible

If supported, verify that the database can be restored to a specific point in time, not just the last backup.

Connection pool handles load correctly

Simulate multiple concurrent database connections and verify the pool manages them without errors or timeouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I test database performance with realistic data volumes?

Create a seed script that generates thousands to millions of rows depending on your expected scale. Test all queries against this dataset to catch performance issues that only appear at volume.

Should I test database backups regularly?

Yes. A backup you have never tested restoring is not a real backup. Schedule regular restore tests to a non-production environment to verify your recovery process works.

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