Optimizing Test Data Management: Strategies for Separation

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Managing test data effectively is crucial for maintaining robust and scalable test automation frameworks. When test data and logic are intertwined, even minor changes can lead to a maintenance nightmare. The solution? Keep them separate! Here’s a detailed look at strategies to decouple test data from test logic, with practical examples and tips for implementation.

1. Externalize Test Data

Store your test data outside the test scripts to make it reusable and easy to maintain. Common storage formats include:

• CSV or Excel Files
• JSON or XML Files
• Databases

Why?

This reduces redundancy and allows for easier updates without touching the code.

Example: CSV for Login Data

username,password
admin,admin123
user1,userpass
guest,guestpass

Code to Read CSV Data in Java:

public static Map<String, String> getTestData(String filePath) throws IOException {
    BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new FileReader(filePath));
    Map<String, String> data = new HashMap<>();
    String line;
    while ((line = reader.readLine()) != null) {
        String[] parts =…