Seeded data

Test data that is explicitly inserted into a system or database before a test runs, in order to establish a known, controlled state for the test to operate against. Seeding ensures tests are repeatable and do not rely on pre-existing or shared data that may change between runs. For example, a login test might seed a user account with a specific username and password before executing, then clean up that account afterwards. Seeded data is a key discipline in robust test automation and something AI-generated scripts frequently omit, requiring a human to add it.