Unit testing is a significant part of the quality assurance process for software products. Often, software developers and testers rely on unit testing for finding bugs or anomalies in the source code of the software. Usually, the lengthy codes of software make it difficult for developers and testers to look for the error. And that’s where Unit testing comes into play.
In this article, we will list the best unit testing tools that will help you to perform unit testing with ease. But let’s first take a look at the overview of unit testing.
What is Unit Testing?
It is a process of testing the source code of software by dividing it into several small units. The individual units are then scanned for possible faults or glitches. This makes testing of lengthy source codes of software programs easy and doable in less time.
Unit testing facilitates error detection, aids in the documentation and design modifications, and reduces bug resolution time. However, performing unit tests manually can be prone to errors and pose speed limitations. Thus, it is advisable to use automation unit testing tools as they allow rapid and precise unit testing.
Such tools make the cumbersome process of unit testing simple and quick. The next section presents a list of the best unit testing tools.
Best Unit Testing Tools
1. JMockit
An open-source unit testing tool, JMockit is not an individual tool but a collection of several efficient tools and APIs. The tool is widely said to be an alternative to the conventional mock objects used during testing. The tool can be used to write tests with the aid of TestNG and JUnit. It also consists of a Java toolkit for testing and generally includes mocking APIs and code coverages.
JMockit provides several types of code coverage such as Line coverage, Data coverage, and Path coverage to elevate the quality of the testing process. The mocking API of the platform also contains verification and recording syntax. Not only this, but it also contains a fake API for replacing the implementation.
JMockit also supports integration testing for Spring-based apps, JAVA EE, and unit testing.
2. Embunit
Embunit or Embedded unit is a free unit testing tool. It is specifically designed for testing software applications developed in C or C++. The tool provides seamless solutions for unit testing and mitigates any associated risks. Some of the features of Embunit include the ability to store test cases in the same test suite, the creation of a white box, and support for integration and regression tests.
It can successfully reduce the need for reworking or revising unit testing; it mitigates repetitive aspects of testing. This tool generates the results in XML format. Additionally, it is designed with a JUnit-like design and defines test cases in a well-structured manner to generate the source code of an application.
Embunit allows easy creation of test scripts and is compatible with embedded C++ compilers. Also, it facilitates the easy organization of test cases. Though the tool is available for free, the enterprise plan having cloud deployment features comes for a certain price.
3. xUnit.net
xUnit is another free and open-source community-focused unit testing tool specifically for the .NET framework. The tool is a part of the open-source gallery of ASP.NET and is licensed under Apache 2. It can successfully and efficiently work with TestDriven.NET, CodeRush, ReShaper, and Xamarin. The xUnit. net is considered to be the latest unit testing tool available for C#, VB.NET, F#, and several other .NET languages.
4. NUnit
A reliable and efficient unit testing tool, NUnit is based on the .NET platform. Available for free, it is an efficient and scalable tool that supports all .NET languages. It allows programmers and developers to write test scripts and its functionality is analogous to JUnit.
NUnit can seamlessly and flexibly support data-driven parallel tests. Also, it leverages console runners to load and execute tests precisely. The last updated version is version 3, which incorporates various advanced and updated features. Version 3 of NUnit is available under the MIT license.
5. TestNG
TestNG is an open-source unit testing tool for the Java programming language. The tool shares a close analogy to JUnit and NUnit. It can effortlessly support concurrent testing with annotation support. To leverage TestNG, one should have JDK 8 or higher installed on their system. The tool also supports parameterized testing and data-driven testing. It is equipped with a robust execution model that reduces risks and loopholes during testing.
TestNG is equipped with a flexible test configuration that allows multiple instances and sequential execution of the same class. The tool can either be run by Ant with the aid of build.xml or by an IDE plugin. TestNG is supported by IDEA, Maven, Eclipse, etc.
It also embeds Beanshell for increased flexibility. Along with unit testing, it can run tests for functional testing and integration testing.
6. Emma
It is an open-source toolkit capable of measuring Java code coverage. Also, it can facilitate team collaboration and enable code coverage for individual team members. Emma is among the unique and rare unit testing tools that provide support for large-scale enterprise software development while efficiently supporting and maintaining development tasks. Emma is known to support a wide range of reporting formats such as HTML, XML, etc.
The reports further support drill-down or user-controlled detailed paths. As it is completely Java-based, the core EMMA distribution can seamlessly support usage via command-line and Apache ANT. It can also aggregate coverage stats with class, package, and “all classes” levels. The tool can merge test runs effectively and is available under the Common Public License v1.0.
7. RSpec
Designed exclusively for the Ruby programming language, RSpec is a behavior-driven development framework. It is inspired by JBehave and equipped with its mocking framework. RSpec 3 was launched in 2014 and has been an efficient unit testing software since then. It can provide composable matches, verifying doubles, and a new syntax that allows the usage without monkey patching.
8. JUnit
Counted among the best open-source unit testing frameworks, JUnit is a reliable and valuable testing solution. It is specifically designed for the Java programming language and supports a test-driven environment. The tool is said to be based on the “first testing than coding” approach.
JUnit provides annotation for test method identification and an assertion for the expected test results as well as test runners. It makes code writing easy and quick. Moreover, it is embedded with test fixtures for sharing ordinary test data, and test runners. This tool is a popular choice for writing and creating redundant tests.
The compatibility and support for test-driven approaches further elevate its preference by programmers and developers. It also has annotations for test data identification and assertion and aids in mapping expected and actual test results. Its simple interface and advanced features make it one of the most popular unit testing tools out there. It is an instance of xUnit architecture’s unit testing framework.
9. JTest
Developed and designed by Parasoft, JTest is a unit testing tool worth considering. It is equipped with advanced features that aid in the unit testing process. The tool is widely used for testing Java applications.
JTest also supports static code analysis, and it can test simple as well as complex software applications. It is a reliable unit testing tool that offers data flow static analysis, run-time error detection, and metrics analysis. Not only unit testing, but it can also provide seamless support for regression testing, load testing, and end-to-end functional testing.
Throughout the testing process, it aids in capturing actual authentic code behavior and provides complete coverage analysis.
10. Parasoft
Parasoft provides static analysis for both C and C++ programming languages. It ensures a high test coverage and offers a reasonable amount of customization. Generally, Parasoft is leveraged for identifying crash-causing and functional problems in software.
It can efficiently assist in running realistic and authentic functional tests having an object repository and stub framework. In addition to unit testing, the tool also comes in handy for requirement traceability and error or bug identification. It also supports debugger integration and generates detailed reports and insightful analytics.
The platform is believed to deliver quality, compliance, and security that too without any compromises in the efficiency and value of the testing process. It can also automatically detect memory-related anomalies, thereby increasing the efficiency and quality of the testing process.
11. PHPUnit
Developed with a programmer-oriented testing framework, PHPUnit specifically supports the PHP programming language. It can efficiently output test results in various formats such as JSON , TestFox, JUnit XML, Test anything protocol, etc. The tool is an instance of xUnit architecture’s unit testing framework. PHPUnit is based on the “JUnit” framework for Java.
It proposes no limitations and allows easy execution of testing principles. Also, it is a cross-platform tool and you can use it on different operating systems.
12. SimpleTest
SimpleTest is another dedicated unit testing tool for the PHP programming language and is open-source. It supports forms, proxies, SSL, and basic authentication. Its simple interface makes it possible for users to complete the unit testing process with relative ease.
The tool can extend test case classes from the base test, taking into account the methods and codes. It also has an autorun.php.file to convert test cases into executable test scripts. To encourage easy understanding of the platform, it also provides detailed documentation and tutorials.
13. Mocha
An open-source JavaScript testing framework, Mocha is another unit testing tool. It runs on Node.js and provides reliable and insightful test results. The tool is capable of generating comprehensive test reports. It has some valuable features such as browser support, test coverage report, report test duration, etc.
Mocha also contains a JavaScript API that can be used to run tests effectively. It can accurately map uncaught exceptions to correct and genuine test cases.
14. Jasmine
It is a behaviour-driven development framework that can efficiently test JavaScript code. Jasmine can function precisely without the need for DOM. It has a segregated, rectified, and clean syntax to improve the ease of writing tests. The tool is a fast and secure solution for unit testing, and its last updated version is 2.4.1.
15. Cantata
An efficient and reliable solution for unit testing and integration testing for C and C++, Cantata is one of the most trusted unit testing tools. It allows developers and programmers to rectify business-critical code. It effectively speeds up the testing process with dynamic testing requirements such as test case generation, test execution, test framework generation, and many more.
All this provides and ensures advanced results with insightful and useful parameters. With Cantata, you can execute test runs for hefty data sets with ease. The incorporated test script manager ensures static analysis and requirement-centered testing.
Conclusion
Unit testing is a critical step in the process of software testing. As it identifies and skims the whole source code in smaller units, it becomes easier to spot bugs and errors. Programmers and developers often take advantage of widely available unit testing tools and ensure a bug-free and efficient software product.
You can leverage multiple unit testing tools to enhance the process of software testing. The list of the most popular unit testing tools mentioned above can help you to compare and choose the ones that seem the best as per your requirements.
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