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Software Engineering vocabulary · Testing

Assertion

Meaning in software engineering, with examples

/əˈsɜːrʃn/nounCommon term

In software engineering, assertion means: A line in a test that checks whether a result matches the expected value. If the check is false, the test fails.

In Turkish: doğrulama ifadesi, beklenti kontrolü, assertion

How it is used

Written with functions such as assertEquals, expect(...).toBe(...) or Python's assert. Reviewers ask for 'a stronger assertion' when a test checks too little. 'Assertion failed' or 'AssertionError' in the output tells you which check broke.

Example sentences

  1. This test has no assertions, so it passes even when the function returns garbage.

  2. Add an assertion for the error message, not just for the status code.

Common collocations

  • add an assertion
  • the assertion fails
  • assertion error
  • a stronger assertion
  • unit testA small automated test that checks one function or class on its own, separate from the database, the network and the rest of the system.
  • test caseOne specific situation you check, with set inputs, steps and an expected result, for example 'logging in with a wrong password shows an error'.
  • mockA fake version of a real object or service used in tests, so you can control its behavior and check how your code uses it. Also a verb: to mock a service.
  • test suiteA collection of tests that are run together, for example all the unit tests of a project or every test for the payment module.

More terms: Testing

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