Unit Testing in Python: Why it’s Important and Why it’s Not!

Unit testing is one of the prominent testing methods used to test the smallest units of code in a program. This form of testing helps test different parts of the program through minute evaluation and ensures that the program is functioning as intended. If your development modules are based on Python, you can deploy unit testing in Python to deliver quality assurance.

Here we will discover the procedures, frameworks, and features of unit testing in Python.

Table of content

- What is unit test?

• How unit testing assists while developing a software:

- Unit testing in Python

- Unittest

• Unit test 2
• unittest extensions in Python
• Another Python unit testing frameworks
• Other Python frameworks that are utilized in the testing

- Performing unit testing in Python using unittest
- pytest vs unittest in Python
- Concluding words

Before beginning the software coding, many software developers develop a set of tests. This method is known as TDD (Test Driven Development) and it is immensely effective. It reduces the time required for software development and simplifies maintenance.

What is unit test?

Testing is an essential phase in software development. A unit is the sub-dimensions software component that can be tested. It often has a few inputs and a single output. Individual components of a software program or application are tested during unit testing.

The overall structure will only function effectively if all of its components work properly. The primary goal of unit testing is to guarantee that each component runs smoothly. Generally, software developers themselves undertake unit testing.

Unit testing can be broadly classified into two types:

• Manual
• Automated

The process of unit testing in program development is often based on the following framework:

Develop the test cases >> Go through and modify >> Baseline >> Carry out test cases

How unit testing assists while developing a software:

• Unit tests assist to fix errors early in software development, which reduces costs.
• It aids developers in comprehending the testing software components and facilitates changes rapidly.
• Unit tests that are well-written serve as development documentation.
• Unit tests aid in code reuse. Transfer your code and tests to your development task. Change the code till the tests pass again.

Unit test cases should be performed separately so that if modifications are needed, they may be changed without affecting the others.

Unit testing in Python

"Trust, but verify", a Russian adage relates to many situations including programming; hence Trust your code, but verify with Python Unit Test.

Unit testing in Python can assist you to uncover issues in your application and avoid predictor variables when you modify your script.

Unit testing in Python: Unittest

Unit testing in Python is a broad approach with a lot of subtleties, but the standard framework module of Python known as unittest allows you to develop and execute tests for your programs with much less effort.

When the development process is finished, the developer usually enters criteria or findings that are known to be possibly practical and valuable, into the test script to validate the validity of a certain unit.

JUnit (Java's unit testing module) inspired Python's unit testing libraries and the framework for unit testing in python shares many functionalities with other commonly used unit testing frameworks as well.

Unit testing in Python: Unit test 2

Unittest2 is a new framework for unit testing in Python featuring in Python 2.7 and later, tested to work with Python 2.6, 2.7, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4. Simply overwrite import unittest2 in the place of import unittest to use unittest2 for performing a unit test in Python.

Unit testing in Python: unittest extensions in Python

• Nose2: A counterpart to the nose module. It's like unittest but consists of a large number of plugins.
• Testify: It is a Python unittest package and a nose replacement. It is designed under the unittest module, and unittest tests will run with minimum change under testify.

Unit testing in Python: Another Python unit testing frameworks

PyTest is a sophisticated and comprehensive Python testing tool that assists in designing better applications. It is helpful if one is new to Python testing.

DocTest is another Python standard library module. It's a collaborative shell for the command prompt and an all-inclusive program written in Python.

Unit testing in Python: Other Python frameworks that are utilized in the testing

• PluginCompat - Execution of tests and suitability checks for pytest plugins.
• test-junkie - A contemporary, highly flexible testing framework.
• slash - It is a Python-based testing framework.
• lemoncheesecake - A Python framework for functional testing that contains variables, fits, test-case hierarchy and meta, robust batch processing, and many report formats such as JSON, XML, HTML, and so on.

Framework for unit testing in Python supports capabilities for automating the tests, whether it is for single-function/class or the entire program. It includes a feature for sharing setup and shutdown code for tests, as well as the ability to aggregate tests into collections for efficiency.
unit testing in Python also allows the tests to be independent of the reporting framework.

Unit testing in Python: Performing unit testing in Python using unittest

If you're using the PyCharm IDE, you may launch the unittest module by pressing ctrl+shift+F10.

Alternatively, you may use a command prompt to execute this module in your application and test while developing to reduce the likelihood of mistakes.

It aids in the creation of a user case for assisting someone in the development of software without ever contacting you.

For unit testing in Python, make a Python test file with a .py extension, then define a TestClass, which must be inherited from unittest.TestCase class.

Here make sure that the test functions in the class must begin with test or test word.

Now, Run the Test class in your Python code by calling unittest.main()

This code is being unit tested to verify whether it produces the correct result for the sum defined in the class.

Test Output,

This unit test will succeed since the class and functions are appropriately declared, and the sum is right. To determine if the unittest is functioning effectively, change the result to a different number and see if it throws an Error/Failure.

Ok, Failure and Error are the three possible outputs when you conduct unit testing in Python using unittest framework.

We can also use unittest to do Python unit testing on basic specified functions and classes before we begin coding the entire software/site.

Unit testing in Python: pytest vs unittest

Some Python developers claim that pytest is one of the most adaptable frameworks available in Python for testing, while others argue that unittest is more effective since it permits testing of Python's core components and generic code.

Unittest is a widely used framework that comes equipped with Python. Classes derived from the TestCase package are specified in this testing section. It is useful since it is generally perceived.

Pytest, on the other hand, is generally used to test and run API code such as REST API and Python utilities. Pytest is a port 3rd module with a lot of features.

unittest library: It can cluster unit tests into classes and customize them individually for each class and test case. It also has extensive comparison capabilities, such as comparing collections element by element and groups by value.

Pytest library: This is an accessible library that must be installed through pip. PyTest simplifies and improves testing while needing less scripting. It is a Python unit test library mostly used for operational and API evaluation. To avoid confusion and maintain syntax simplicity, it employs a basic verifying technique rather than many test statements.

Unit testing in Python: Concluding words

The entire purpose of unit testing in programming is to provide you with the assurance that all of the 'components' that form the software package operate as intended.

In Python, it is common practice to simulate a module thus you can assure that while unit testing, you comprehend what your inputs are; and, more importantly, you can alter your inputs such that issues are notified.

Each item in the Test Case Documentation should include at least two unittest, both positive and negative. Anyone who wants to know the capability should be able to do so by just navigating through the Test cases developed after unit testing in Python. This should clarify how you addressed and solved the problem, as well as what conclusions you applied.