Getting Started
Configuration
Troubleshooting
Seeding mock data allows you to fill your database with realistic, automatically generated information. This is particularly useful during the development and testing phases, as it lets you interact with your application using a populated database without needing to manually enter dozens of records.
By using the seeding tool, you can create consistent datasets that mirror real-world usage, ensuring your features work as expected before moving to production.
Follow these steps to populate your database with mock data:
Specify the tables or entities you want to populate with information.
Select the types of mock data you need, such as names, email addresses, dates, or custom values.
Run the process to inject the generated information into your database.
Open your application or database browser to confirm that the new records appear as expected.
You can configure your seed process to generate various types of data. The table below outlines common options you might use when setting up your mock data.
Note
Seeding is intended for development and staging environments. Be careful not to run seeding commands against a production database, as this may overwrite or corrupt your actual user data.
Tip
Use the "Relationship" feature to generate connected data, such as assigning a set of generated posts to a specific generated user. This creates a more authentic testing environment.
Warning
If you have existing data in your tables, ensure your seed process is configured to add to the data rather than replacing it entirely, unless you intend to clear the database first.
Important
Always review your seed configuration if your database structure changes. If you add a new required field to a table, your existing seed scripts may need to be updated to include that field, or the seeding process will fail.
The following diagram illustrates how the seed tool interacts with your database.
If you encounter issues during the seeding process, consider the following checklist: