How can you ensure the validity of refactored tests?

2 Run tests before and after refactoring

One of the main goals of refactoring is to preserve the behavior and functionality of your code. Therefore, you should always run your tests before and after refactoring to verify that they still produce the same results and pass the same assertions. Running tests before refactoring can also help you identify any existing bugs or issues that need to be fixed. Running tests after refactoring can help you detect any new bugs or issues that may have been introduced by the changes.

3 Refactor in small steps

Refactoring can be a complex and time-consuming task, especially if you have a large or legacy code base. To make it easier and safer, you should refactor in small steps, rather than trying to make big changes at once. Small steps can help you focus on one aspect or element of your code at a time, reduce the risk of errors, and make it easier to test and debug your changes. You can use tools like IDEs or code editors to help you perform common refactoring operations, such as renaming variables, extracting methods, or moving code.

4 Follow coding standards and conventions

Coding standards and conventions are a set of rules and guidelines that define how you should write and format your code. They can help you make your code more consistent, readable, and understandable for yourself and others. Following coding standards and conventions can also help you avoid common mistakes, such as typos, syntax errors, or logical errors. You can use tools like code analyzers or linters to help you check and enforce coding standards and conventions in your code.

5 Use code comments and documentation

Code comments and documentation are a way of adding explanatory or descriptive information to your code. They can help you clarify the purpose, logic, or functionality of your code, as well as any assumptions, dependencies, or limitations. Code comments and documentation can also help you communicate your refactoring decisions and rationale to yourself and others. You can use tools like docstrings or annotations to help you generate and maintain code comments and documentation in your code.

6 Review and test your refactored code

Reviewing and testing your refactored code are essential steps to ensure the validity of your tests. Reviewing your code can help you check for any errors, inconsistencies, or redundancies that may have been overlooked or introduced by the refactoring process. Testing your code can help you verify that your tests still cover the same scenarios, cases, and requirements as before, and that they still produce the same outputs and outcomes as expected. You can use tools like code reviews or peer reviews to help you review your code, and tools like test coverage or test reports to help you test your code.

7 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?