JS: Unit Testing Classes

Learning Goals

• Review structure of a test and importing/exporting files specifically for testing
• Ability to read tests w/ Classes and pass them
• Review some solid habits to build while practicing

Let’s say we were writing a class, Tweet, that represents the content a user see when they read a tweet. We want to make sure each tweet is labeled with its sender. Here’s how that test would look:

class Tweet {
// In the spirit of TDD, we haven't yet written the implementation code
}

describe('Tweet', function() {
  it('has a sender', function() {
    var tweet = new Tweet('@LetaCodes', 'something brilliant');

    assert.equal(tweet.sender, '@LetaCodes');
  });
});

Let’s talk a little bit about what’s going on here:

• We have a describe() block which denotes that we’re going to start writing a number of tests about the same function.

describe('Tweet', function() {
  // it('has a sender', function() {
  //   var tweet = new Tweet('@LetaCodes', 'something brilliant');
  //
  //   assert.equal(tweet.sender, '@LetaCodes');
  // });
});

• We make a human-readable statement about what we want to test with the it() block.

// describe('Tweet', function() {
  it('has a sender', function() {
    var tweet = new Tweet('@LetaCodes', 'something brilliant');

    assert.equal(tweet.sender, '@LetaCodes');
  });
// });

• We write an assertion about our code. Here, we’re asserting that when we pass the string @LetaCodes into Tweet that the tweet object will have a sender property with that value.

// describe('Tweet', function() {
  // it('has a sender', function() {
    var tweet = new Tweet('@LetaCodes', 'something brilliant');

    assert.equal(tweet.sender, '@LetaCodes');
  // });
// });

  assert.method(actual, expected)

Importing/Exporting Files

As mentioned earlier, tests are typically separate from its implementation code. In order for this to work properly, we need to be able to export the functionality from one file and import it into the test file. Let’s take a look at an example:

tweet.js

class Tweet {

}

module.exports = Tweet;

The module.exports allows us to export a piece of functionality. In this instance, we want to export our function (specifically, our class) Tweet, so that is what we assign it.

tweet-test.js

var Tweet = require('./tweet.js'); //  './tweet.js' is the file path to the file we want to import from.

describe('Tweet', function() {
  it('has a sender', function() {
    var tweet = new Tweet('@LetaCodes', 'something brilliant');

    assert.equal(tweet.sender, '@LetaCodes');
  });
});

By adding require('./tweet') to our test file, we are importing that function and assigning it to a variable. Then we can test it by asserting what value is returned after invoking our imported function!

The Testing Process

It takes some time to build out solid habits when testing. Often we’ll see some developers run the test without even looking at the test first, or start writing the implementation code before they have even run the test. Develop these good habits early so you really know what you are testing for and can speak to the process.

1. Read the test. This includes the description, paying attention to what it is asking for, and then what the assertions are.
2. Run the test. It should fail. Take a look at the error and what it is saying. Pay attention also to what line the test fails on.
3. Then begin to write implementation code. Going off of what the error says, write the minimum amount of code it is asking for.
4. Run the test again. If it still fails, see if the error has changed. Is a different line of code failing? Rinse and repeat until it passes.
5. Then make sure that all of the previous tests are passing. If not, go back and follow steps 1-4. Otherwise, continue on to the next one.

Extra Stuff

If your curiosity is piqued - read this article.

• What were the consequences of this app not working as expected?
• What kind of pressure can you imagine the engineering team who built this were under, while developing the app?
• What lessons do you think the company and engineering team learned from this?