Unit testing is a process where developers evaluate the function and performance of small software modules. Developers write small programs to verify inputs, behaviors, and outputs. Unit testing is an ongoing effort to confirm code works as intended and is an integral part of the development process. It encourages early discovery of problems, reducing errors later in the development process.
Unit testing in computer science refers to a development process that evaluates both function and performance of the smallest discrete software module that can operate on its own, also known as a drive. Because measurement is at the heart of all software quality programs, each unit test verifies that a unit adheres to the design intent stated in the development plan. The test also verifies that the behavior and performance of the drive are as expected.
Typically, unit tests are themselves small programs in which a developer specifies acceptable inputs, behaviors, and outputs for the unit and then records the results for later review and evaluation. A software developer may perform unit tests on an ad hoc basis or, if the main program is large or complex, may add unit tests for inclusion in a larger test harness exercising multiple integrated units simultaneously. Regardless, unit testing is an ongoing effort by the developer to confirm that his code works as intended, and as such is considered an integral part of the overall development process.
Any software development process normally begins with a design phase where the entire team spends their time writing plans for design, development, integration, system testing, acceptance and maintenance again software. Unit testing is a necessary component of all phases. Developers should have an easy way to verify that code changes made to modules produce the expected results before integrating those changes into the main program.
Unit tests are usually written by the same developer whose code will be used. The reason for this is that the unit programmer has in-depth knowledge of module design and expected performance. Typically, the developer’s test case sets parameters for all drive inputs, processing methods, and outputs, and defines acceptable performance criteria for subsequent integration and acceptance tests.
A key benefit of unit testing is that it encourages the discovery of problems early in the development process. When coding problems are discovered early, corrective actions and fixes can usually be performed before the faulty code has a negative effect on the integrated application and its users. While unit tests fail to catch every possible program error, they significantly reduce errors later in the development process, saving time, money, and resources that would be required to debug a program through additional rounds of validation and testing before of the release.
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