Okuzeka
Software Engineering vocabulary · Testing

Unit test

Meaning in software engineering, with examples

/ˈjuːnɪt test/nounCore term

In software engineering, unit test means: A small automated test that checks one function or class on its own, separate from the database, the network and the rest of the system.

In Turkish: birim testi

How it is used

Teams write, run and fix unit tests, and reviewers often ask 'Can you add a unit test for this?' Unit tests should be fast enough to run on every commit in the CI pipeline.

Example sentences

  1. Please add a unit test for the discount calculation before we merge.

  2. All 450 unit tests pass in under ten seconds.

Common collocations

  • write a unit test
  • run the unit tests
  • add a unit test
  • unit tests pass
  • integration testA test that checks how several parts of a system work together, for example your code with a real database or another service.
  • 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 coverageA measure, often a percentage, of how much of the code is run by automated tests. It shows which parts are tested and which are not.
  • end-to-end testA test that runs a complete user journey through the real system, for example opening the site, logging in and placing an order, to check that everything works together.

More terms: Testing

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: