Unit Testing Best Practices

Unit testing is a software testing technique that involves testing individual components of a software application in isolation. It aims to validate that each unit of the software performs as expected. This lesson outlines best practices for writing effective unit tests.

What is Unit Testing?

Unit testing involves testing the smallest parts of an application (units) independently to ensure that specific functionalities work correctly.

Why Unit Testing?

• Improves code quality
• Facilitates code refactoring
• Enhances documentation
• Reduces bugs in production

1. Choose a Testing Framework

Popular JavaScript testing frameworks include:

• Jest
• Mocha
• Jasmine

2. Write Your First Test

Here's a simple example using Jest:

                function add(a, b) {
                    return a + b;
                }

                test('adds 1 + 2 to equal 3', () => {
                    expect(add(1, 2)).toBe(3);
                });
                

1. Write Testable Code

Ensure that your code is modular and functions are small and focused.

2. Use Descriptive Names

Make sure that your test names describe what the test is verifying.

3. Keep Tests Independent

Avoid dependencies between tests to ensure they can run in any order.

4. Test Edge Cases

Include tests for boundary conditions and unexpected inputs.

5. Run Tests Frequently

Integrate tests into your build process to catch issues early.