How to Perform Unit Testing in Oracle

Why should I unit-test PL/SQL code?

Detect logic defects early, protect against regressions, and document expected behavior. Automated tests shorten release cycles and raise confidence in schema changes.

Which tools are available for Oracle unit testing?

Use native SQL Developer Unit Test, the open-source utPLSQL framework, or commercial suites like Quest Code Tester. This guide focuses on utPLSQL because it is free, scriptable, and CI-friendly.

How do I install utPLSQL quickly?

Clone the repository, connect as a privileged user, and run install_headless.sql.Grant UT_ROLE to developers running tests.

What is the basic test structure?

Create a schema-level package whose procedures start with test_. Inside, use ut.expect(actual).to_equal(expected). Register the package in a suite and execute with ut.run.

Example: Testing order total calculation

Suppose calc_order_total(p_order_id) in package orders_api returns the value stored in Orders.total_amount. A test verifies both value and datatype.

create or replace package orders_api_ut as
--%suite(Orders API)
--%suitepath(ecommerce).

--%test(Correct total returned)
procedure test_total_matches_column;
end orders_api_ut;
/
create or replace package body orders_api_ut as
procedure test_total_matches_column is
l_expected Orders.total_amount%type;
l_actual Orders.total_amount%type;
begin
select total_amount into l_expected from Orders where id = 1001;
l_actual := orders_api.calc_order_total(1001);
ut.expect(l_actual).to_equal(l_expected);
end;
end orders_api_ut;
/


How do I execute all tests?

Run begin ut.run(); end; in SQL*Plus, SQLcl, or any CI job.Pass ut_varchar2_list('ecommerce') to run a specific suite path.

How can I see a JUnit-style report?

Use the ut_xunit_reporter() parameter:
begin ut.run(reporters => ut_xunit_reporter()); end; Outputs XML consumable by Jenkins or GitLab.

Best practices for Oracle unit testing

Keep tests independent; reset data with savepoint/rollback or isolated test schemas. Cover edge cases—NULLs, constraint violations, bulk data. Integrate tests into every deployment pipeline.

What are common mistakes?

Relying on production data makes tests brittle; instead, insert minimal fixture rows.Ignoring performance leads to slow suites; prefer deterministic SQL over loops and avoid COMMIT inside tests.

How do I test triggers?

Fire DML inside the test, then query the table or audit log to assert side-effects. Wrap the DML in savepoint and rollback to leave no residue.

How do I mock external dependencies?

Replace calls to outbound web services or DB links with conditional compilation or test stubs in shadow packages.utPLSQL supports build-in spy helpers for verifying call counts.

Can I seed data with SQL scripts?

Yes. Use ut_suite_setup to run fixture DML once per suite, and ut_test_setup for each test case. Clean up in matching teardown procedures.

Next steps

Add coverage reports, integrate with Git hooks, and educate teammates. Strong test suites turn PL/SQL into a maintainable, reliable layer of your application.

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