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Last updated on 2024年5月7日

What are the best practices for naming unit tests?

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Unit testing is a vital part of software testing that verifies the functionality and quality of individual components of a software system. However, writing effective unit tests requires following some best practices, especially when it comes to naming them. In this article, you will learn what are the benefits of using clear and consistent names for your unit tests, and what are some of the common conventions and guidelines that you can apply to improve your unit testing process.

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Torsten Pohl

Freelance Software Tester with expertise in ETL and automation.
Md Maruf Rahman

ISTQB? Certified Tester | QA Automation Engineer | Cypress | WebdriverIO | Selenium |

1 Why name matters

Naming your unit tests is not just a cosmetic or stylistic choice, but a crucial aspect of making your tests readable, maintainable, and communicative. A good name can convey the intent, the behavior, and the expected outcome of a unit test, as well as the context and the scope of the test case. A bad name, on the other hand, can obscure the purpose, the logic, and the result of a unit test, making it harder to understand, debug, and refactor. Therefore, you should always aim to choose names that are descriptive, meaningful, and consistent for your unit tests.

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Torsten Pohl

Freelance Software Tester with expertise in ETL and automation.
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Best practices for naming unit tests focus not only on the test names themselves but also on the clarity and specificity of method and attribute names within the tests. This dual focus helps to effectively create a domain-specific language, reducing the necessity for a BDD layer and simplifying the testing framework.

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2 The anatomy of a name

A common way to structure the name of a unit test is to follow the pattern of MethodName_StateUnderTest_ExpectedBehavior . This pattern helps you to identify the method or function that you are testing, the state or condition that you are testing it under, and the behavior or result that you are expecting from it. For example, a unit test name like CalculateInterest_RateIsZero_ReturnsZero tells you that you are testing the CalculateInterest method, with a zero interest rate as the input, and expecting a zero output as the result.

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Javier Gil Molinero

Java Software Engineer
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There are some patterns or schemas for the name, ussually naming the method or action and then the expected behaviour. For me, this pattern is very clear: whenXThenY. For example, these could tests for a mapper: whenMappingObjectShouldReturn ObjectFilled whenMappingNullShouldReturnNull

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3 The art of naming

To ensure your unit test names are clear and concise, it's important to use verbs and nouns that describe the actions and objects, as well as adjectives and adverbs that qualify the state or condition. Additionally, you should avoid vague or generic terms, redundant words, and unnecessary punctuation. When you combine these tips with a naming pattern, you can create unit test names that are both descriptive and organized.

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4 The power of consistency

When naming your unit tests, it is important to maintain a consistent and coherent naming convention throughout your project. This means following the same pattern, style, and grammar for all unit tests, and avoiding mixing different conventions. Having a consistent naming convention can help create a common language among team members and stakeholders, establish a standard for writing new unit tests, enhance the readability and usability of the unit tests, and facilitate the organization and execution of the tests.

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Javier Gil Molinero

Java Software Engineer
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In general, in coding being consistent helps to be predictable and easier to read. In my case, seeing only the structure or the name of something I have an idea what is about.

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5 The challenge of naming

Naming your unit tests is not an easy task, and it may require some trial and error, feedback, and revision to find the best names for your test cases. However, it is a worthwhile effort that can pay off in the long run, by improving the quality and the reliability of your software testing process. Therefore, you should always strive to name your unit tests with care, clarity, and consistency, and follow the best practices that suit your project and your context.

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Md Maruf Rahman

ISTQB? Certified Tester | QA Automation Engineer | Cypress | WebdriverIO | Selenium |
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Naming unit tests effectively presents a challenge in software development. A best practice is to ensure that the test name accurately describes the behavior being tested, providing clarity and context to both developers and future maintainers. The name should be concise yet descriptive, conveying the specific functionality or scenario being verified. Incorporating keywords related to the expected outcome or functionality being tested can enhance readability and understanding. Additionally, following a consistent naming convention across the test suite promotes uniformity and ease of navigation, facilitating collaboration and maintenance.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the best practices for naming unit tests?

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6

1 Why name matters

2 The anatomy of a name

3 The art of naming

4 The power of consistency

5 The challenge of naming

6 Here’s what else to consider

Software Testing

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What are the best practices for naming unit tests?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Why name matters

2 The anatomy of a name

3 The art of naming

4 The power of consistency

5 The challenge of naming

6 Here’s what else to consider

Software Testing

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