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What are data tests and which ones matter most?
Data tests are automated checks that run on your data to catch problems before they reach dashboards. The most useful are uniqueness of keys, non-null required fields, valid value ranges, referential integrity between tables, and reconciliation checks that compare totals with a source.
Core tests to start with:
- Unique and not null on primary keys.
- Accepted values, such as order status from a known list.
- Relationships, so every sale has a valid product and customer.
- Row counts and freshness, to detect missing loads.
- Totals match the source system within an agreed tolerance.
Tools like dbt make these easy to define alongside your models. Start with a few high-value tests on the tables that feed your key dashboards, then add more when issues occur.
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