3 # Introduction: Why Google C++ Testing Framework? #
5 _Google C++ Testing Framework_ helps you write better C++ tests.
7 No matter whether you work on Linux, Windows, or a Mac, if you write C++ code,
8 Google Test can help you.
10 So what makes a good test, and how does Google C++ Testing Framework fit in? We believe:
11 1. Tests should be _independent_ and _repeatable_. It's a pain to debug a test that succeeds or fails as a result of other tests. Google C++ Testing Framework isolates the tests by running each of them on a different object. When a test fails, Google C++ Testing Framework allows you to run it in isolation for quick debugging.
12 1. Tests should be well _organized_ and reflect the structure of the tested code. Google C++ Testing Framework groups related tests into test cases that can share data and subroutines. This common pattern is easy to recognize and makes tests easy to maintain. Such consistency is especially helpful when people switch projects and start to work on a new code base.
13 1. Tests should be _portable_ and _reusable_. The open-source community has a lot of code that is platform-neutral, its tests should also be platform-neutral. Google C++ Testing Framework works on different OSes, with different compilers (gcc, MSVC, and others), with or without exceptions, so Google C++ Testing Framework tests can easily work with a variety of configurations. (Note that the current release only contains build scripts for Linux - we are actively working on scripts for other platforms.)
14 1. When tests fail, they should provide as much _information_ about the problem as possible. Google C++ Testing Framework doesn't stop at the first test failure. Instead, it only stops the current test and continues with the next. You can also set up tests that report non-fatal failures after which the current test continues. Thus, you can detect and fix multiple bugs in a single run-edit-compile cycle.
15 1. The testing framework should liberate test writers from housekeeping chores and let them focus on the test _content_. Google C++ Testing Framework automatically keeps track of all tests defined, and doesn't require the user to enumerate them in order to run them.
16 1. Tests should be _fast_. With Google C++ Testing Framework, you can reuse shared resources across tests and pay for the set-up/tear-down only once, without making tests depend on each other.
18 Since Google C++ Testing Framework is based on the popular xUnit
19 architecture, you'll feel right at home if you've used JUnit or PyUnit before.
20 If not, it will take you about 10 minutes to learn the basics and get started.
23 _Note:_ We sometimes refer to Google C++ Testing Framework informally
26 # Setting up a New Test Project #
28 To write a test program using Google Test, you need to compile Google
29 Test into a library and link your test with it. We provide build
30 files for some popular build systems: `msvc/` for Visual Studio,
31 `xcode/` for Mac Xcode, `make/` for GNU make, `codegear/` for Borland
32 C++ Builder, and the autotools script (deprecated) and
33 `CMakeLists.txt` for CMake (recommended) in the Google Test root
34 directory. If your build system is not on this list, you can take a
35 look at `make/Makefile` to learn how Google Test should be compiled
36 (basically you want to compile `src/gtest-all.cc` with `GTEST_ROOT`
37 and `GTEST_ROOT/include` in the header search path, where `GTEST_ROOT`
38 is the Google Test root directory).
40 Once you are able to compile the Google Test library, you should
41 create a project or build target for your test program. Make sure you
42 have `GTEST_ROOT/include` in the header search path so that the
43 compiler can find `"gtest/gtest.h"` when compiling your test. Set up
44 your test project to link with the Google Test library (for example,
45 in Visual Studio, this is done by adding a dependency on
48 If you still have questions, take a look at how Google Test's own
49 tests are built and use them as examples.
53 When using Google Test, you start by writing _assertions_, which are statements
54 that check whether a condition is true. An assertion's result can be _success_,
55 _nonfatal failure_, or _fatal failure_. If a fatal failure occurs, it aborts
56 the current function; otherwise the program continues normally.
58 _Tests_ use assertions to verify the tested code's behavior. If a test crashes
59 or has a failed assertion, then it _fails_; otherwise it _succeeds_.
61 A _test case_ contains one or many tests. You should group your tests into test
62 cases that reflect the structure of the tested code. When multiple tests in a
63 test case need to share common objects and subroutines, you can put them into a
66 A _test program_ can contain multiple test cases.
68 We'll now explain how to write a test program, starting at the individual
69 assertion level and building up to tests and test cases.
73 Google Test assertions are macros that resemble function calls. You test a
74 class or function by making assertions about its behavior. When an assertion
75 fails, Google Test prints the assertion's source file and line number location,
76 along with a failure message. You may also supply a custom failure message
77 which will be appended to Google Test's message.
79 The assertions come in pairs that test the same thing but have different
80 effects on the current function. `ASSERT_*` versions generate fatal failures
81 when they fail, and **abort the current function**. `EXPECT_*` versions generate
82 nonfatal failures, which don't abort the current function. Usually `EXPECT_*`
83 are preferred, as they allow more than one failures to be reported in a test.
84 However, you should use `ASSERT_*` if it doesn't make sense to continue when
85 the assertion in question fails.
87 Since a failed `ASSERT_*` returns from the current function immediately,
88 possibly skipping clean-up code that comes after it, it may cause a space leak.
89 Depending on the nature of the leak, it may or may not be worth fixing - so
90 keep this in mind if you get a heap checker error in addition to assertion
93 To provide a custom failure message, simply stream it into the macro using the
94 `<<` operator, or a sequence of such operators. An example:
96 ASSERT_EQ(x.size(), y.size()) << "Vectors x and y are of unequal length";
98 for (int i = 0; i < x.size(); ++i) {
99 EXPECT_EQ(x[i], y[i]) << "Vectors x and y differ at index " << i;
103 Anything that can be streamed to an `ostream` can be streamed to an assertion
104 macro--in particular, C strings and `string` objects. If a wide string
105 (`wchar_t*`, `TCHAR*` in `UNICODE` mode on Windows, or `std::wstring`) is
106 streamed to an assertion, it will be translated to UTF-8 when printed.
108 ## Basic Assertions ##
110 These assertions do basic true/false condition testing.
112 | **Fatal assertion** | **Nonfatal assertion** | **Verifies** |
113 |:--------------------|:-----------------------|:-------------|
114 | `ASSERT_TRUE(`_condition_`)`; | `EXPECT_TRUE(`_condition_`)`; | _condition_ is true |
115 | `ASSERT_FALSE(`_condition_`)`; | `EXPECT_FALSE(`_condition_`)`; | _condition_ is false |
117 Remember, when they fail, `ASSERT_*` yields a fatal failure and
118 returns from the current function, while `EXPECT_*` yields a nonfatal
119 failure, allowing the function to continue running. In either case, an
120 assertion failure means its containing test fails.
122 _Availability_: Linux, Windows, Mac.
124 ## Binary Comparison ##
126 This section describes assertions that compare two values.
128 | **Fatal assertion** | **Nonfatal assertion** | **Verifies** |
129 |:--------------------|:-----------------------|:-------------|
130 |`ASSERT_EQ(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`|`EXPECT_EQ(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`| _val1_ `==` _val2_ |
131 |`ASSERT_NE(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`|`EXPECT_NE(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`| _val1_ `!=` _val2_ |
132 |`ASSERT_LT(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`|`EXPECT_LT(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`| _val1_ `<` _val2_ |
133 |`ASSERT_LE(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`|`EXPECT_LE(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`| _val1_ `<=` _val2_ |
134 |`ASSERT_GT(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`|`EXPECT_GT(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`| _val1_ `>` _val2_ |
135 |`ASSERT_GE(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`|`EXPECT_GE(`_val1_`, `_val2_`);`| _val1_ `>=` _val2_ |
137 In the event of a failure, Google Test prints both _val1_ and _val2_.
139 Value arguments must be comparable by the assertion's comparison
140 operator or you'll get a compiler error. We used to require the
141 arguments to support the `<<` operator for streaming to an `ostream`,
142 but it's no longer necessary since v1.6.0 (if `<<` is supported, it
143 will be called to print the arguments when the assertion fails;
144 otherwise Google Test will attempt to print them in the best way it
145 can. For more details and how to customize the printing of the
146 arguments, see this Google Mock [recipe](../../googlemock/docs/CookBook.md#teaching-google-mock-how-to-print-your-values).).
148 These assertions can work with a user-defined type, but only if you define the
149 corresponding comparison operator (e.g. `==`, `<`, etc). If the corresponding
150 operator is defined, prefer using the `ASSERT_*()` macros because they will
151 print out not only the result of the comparison, but the two operands as well.
153 Arguments are always evaluated exactly once. Therefore, it's OK for the
154 arguments to have side effects. However, as with any ordinary C/C++ function,
155 the arguments' evaluation order is undefined (i.e. the compiler is free to
156 choose any order) and your code should not depend on any particular argument
159 `ASSERT_EQ()` does pointer equality on pointers. If used on two C strings, it
160 tests if they are in the same memory location, not if they have the same value.
161 Therefore, if you want to compare C strings (e.g. `const char*`) by value, use
162 `ASSERT_STREQ()` , which will be described later on. In particular, to assert
163 that a C string is `NULL`, use `ASSERT_STREQ(NULL, c_string)` . However, to
164 compare two `string` objects, you should use `ASSERT_EQ`.
166 Macros in this section work with both narrow and wide string objects (`string`
169 _Availability_: Linux, Windows, Mac.
171 _Historical note_: Before February 2016 `*_EQ` had a convention of calling it as
172 `ASSERT_EQ(expected, actual)`, so lots of existing code uses this order.
173 Now `*_EQ` treats both parameters in the same way.
175 ## String Comparison ##
177 The assertions in this group compare two **C strings**. If you want to compare
178 two `string` objects, use `EXPECT_EQ`, `EXPECT_NE`, and etc instead.
180 | **Fatal assertion** | **Nonfatal assertion** | **Verifies** |
181 |:--------------------|:-----------------------|:-------------|
182 | `ASSERT_STREQ(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);` | `EXPECT_STREQ(`_str1_`, `_str_2`);` | the two C strings have the same content |
183 | `ASSERT_STRNE(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);` | `EXPECT_STRNE(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);` | the two C strings have different content |
184 | `ASSERT_STRCASEEQ(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);`| `EXPECT_STRCASEEQ(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);` | the two C strings have the same content, ignoring case |
185 | `ASSERT_STRCASENE(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);`| `EXPECT_STRCASENE(`_str1_`, `_str2_`);` | the two C strings have different content, ignoring case |
187 Note that "CASE" in an assertion name means that case is ignored.
189 `*STREQ*` and `*STRNE*` also accept wide C strings (`wchar_t*`). If a
190 comparison of two wide strings fails, their values will be printed as UTF-8
193 A `NULL` pointer and an empty string are considered _different_.
195 _Availability_: Linux, Windows, Mac.
197 See also: For more string comparison tricks (substring, prefix, suffix, and
198 regular expression matching, for example), see the [Advanced Google Test Guide](AdvancedGuide.md).
203 1. Use the `TEST()` macro to define and name a test function, These are ordinary C++ functions that don't return a value.
204 1. In this function, along with any valid C++ statements you want to include, use the various Google Test assertions to check values.
205 1. The test's result is determined by the assertions; if any assertion in the test fails (either fatally or non-fatally), or if the test crashes, the entire test fails. Otherwise, it succeeds.
208 TEST(test_case_name, test_name) {
214 `TEST()` arguments go from general to specific. The _first_ argument is the
215 name of the test case, and the _second_ argument is the test's name within the
216 test case. Both names must be valid C++ identifiers, and they should not contain underscore (`_`). A test's _full name_ consists of its containing test case and its
217 individual name. Tests from different test cases can have the same individual
220 For example, let's take a simple integer function:
222 int Factorial(int n); // Returns the factorial of n
225 A test case for this function might look like:
227 // Tests factorial of 0.
228 TEST(FactorialTest, HandlesZeroInput) {
229 EXPECT_EQ(1, Factorial(0));
232 // Tests factorial of positive numbers.
233 TEST(FactorialTest, HandlesPositiveInput) {
234 EXPECT_EQ(1, Factorial(1));
235 EXPECT_EQ(2, Factorial(2));
236 EXPECT_EQ(6, Factorial(3));
237 EXPECT_EQ(40320, Factorial(8));
241 Google Test groups the test results by test cases, so logically-related tests
242 should be in the same test case; in other words, the first argument to their
243 `TEST()` should be the same. In the above example, we have two tests,
244 `HandlesZeroInput` and `HandlesPositiveInput`, that belong to the same test
245 case `FactorialTest`.
247 _Availability_: Linux, Windows, Mac.
249 # Test Fixtures: Using the Same Data Configuration for Multiple Tests #
251 If you find yourself writing two or more tests that operate on similar data,
252 you can use a _test fixture_. It allows you to reuse the same configuration of
253 objects for several different tests.
255 To create a fixture, just:
256 1. Derive a class from `::testing::Test` . Start its body with `protected:` or `public:` as we'll want to access fixture members from sub-classes.
257 1. Inside the class, declare any objects you plan to use.
258 1. If necessary, write a default constructor or `SetUp()` function to prepare the objects for each test. A common mistake is to spell `SetUp()` as `Setup()` with a small `u` - don't let that happen to you.
259 1. If necessary, write a destructor or `TearDown()` function to release any resources you allocated in `SetUp()` . To learn when you should use the constructor/destructor and when you should use `SetUp()/TearDown()`, read this [FAQ entry](FAQ.md#should-i-use-the-constructordestructor-of-the-test-fixture-or-the-set-uptear-down-function).
260 1. If needed, define subroutines for your tests to share.
262 When using a fixture, use `TEST_F()` instead of `TEST()` as it allows you to
263 access objects and subroutines in the test fixture:
265 TEST_F(test_case_name, test_name) {
270 Like `TEST()`, the first argument is the test case name, but for `TEST_F()`
271 this must be the name of the test fixture class. You've probably guessed: `_F`
274 Unfortunately, the C++ macro system does not allow us to create a single macro
275 that can handle both types of tests. Using the wrong macro causes a compiler
278 Also, you must first define a test fixture class before using it in a
279 `TEST_F()`, or you'll get the compiler error "`virtual outside class
282 For each test defined with `TEST_F()`, Google Test will:
283 1. Create a _fresh_ test fixture at runtime
284 1. Immediately initialize it via `SetUp()` ,
286 1. Clean up by calling `TearDown()`
287 1. Delete the test fixture. Note that different tests in the same test case have different test fixture objects, and Google Test always deletes a test fixture before it creates the next one. Google Test does not reuse the same test fixture for multiple tests. Any changes one test makes to the fixture do not affect other tests.
289 As an example, let's write tests for a FIFO queue class named `Queue`, which
290 has the following interface:
292 template <typename E> // E is the element type.
296 void Enqueue(const E& element);
297 E* Dequeue(); // Returns NULL if the queue is empty.
303 First, define a fixture class. By convention, you should give it the name
304 `FooTest` where `Foo` is the class being tested.
306 class QueueTest : public ::testing::Test {
308 virtual void SetUp() {
314 // virtual void TearDown() {}
322 In this case, `TearDown()` is not needed since we don't have to clean up after
323 each test, other than what's already done by the destructor.
325 Now we'll write tests using `TEST_F()` and this fixture.
327 TEST_F(QueueTest, IsEmptyInitially) {
328 EXPECT_EQ(0, q0_.size());
331 TEST_F(QueueTest, DequeueWorks) {
332 int* n = q0_.Dequeue();
336 ASSERT_TRUE(n != NULL);
338 EXPECT_EQ(0, q1_.size());
342 ASSERT_TRUE(n != NULL);
344 EXPECT_EQ(1, q2_.size());
349 The above uses both `ASSERT_*` and `EXPECT_*` assertions. The rule of thumb is
350 to use `EXPECT_*` when you want the test to continue to reveal more errors
351 after the assertion failure, and use `ASSERT_*` when continuing after failure
352 doesn't make sense. For example, the second assertion in the `Dequeue` test is
353 `ASSERT_TRUE(n != NULL)`, as we need to dereference the pointer `n` later,
354 which would lead to a segfault when `n` is `NULL`.
356 When these tests run, the following happens:
357 1. Google Test constructs a `QueueTest` object (let's call it `t1` ).
358 1. `t1.SetUp()` initializes `t1` .
359 1. The first test ( `IsEmptyInitially` ) runs on `t1` .
360 1. `t1.TearDown()` cleans up after the test finishes.
361 1. `t1` is destructed.
362 1. The above steps are repeated on another `QueueTest` object, this time running the `DequeueWorks` test.
364 _Availability_: Linux, Windows, Mac.
366 _Note_: Google Test automatically saves all _Google Test_ flags when a test
367 object is constructed, and restores them when it is destructed.
369 # Invoking the Tests #
371 `TEST()` and `TEST_F()` implicitly register their tests with Google Test. So, unlike with many other C++ testing frameworks, you don't have to re-list all your defined tests in order to run them.
373 After defining your tests, you can run them with `RUN_ALL_TESTS()` , which returns `0` if all the tests are successful, or `1` otherwise. Note that `RUN_ALL_TESTS()` runs _all tests_ in your link unit -- they can be from different test cases, or even different source files.
375 When invoked, the `RUN_ALL_TESTS()` macro:
376 1. Saves the state of all Google Test flags.
377 1. Creates a test fixture object for the first test.
378 1. Initializes it via `SetUp()`.
379 1. Runs the test on the fixture object.
380 1. Cleans up the fixture via `TearDown()`.
381 1. Deletes the fixture.
382 1. Restores the state of all Google Test flags.
383 1. Repeats the above steps for the next test, until all tests have run.
385 In addition, if the text fixture's constructor generates a fatal failure in
386 step 2, there is no point for step 3 - 5 and they are thus skipped. Similarly,
387 if step 3 generates a fatal failure, step 4 will be skipped.
389 _Important_: You must not ignore the return value of `RUN_ALL_TESTS()`, or `gcc`
390 will give you a compiler error. The rationale for this design is that the
391 automated testing service determines whether a test has passed based on its
392 exit code, not on its stdout/stderr output; thus your `main()` function must
393 return the value of `RUN_ALL_TESTS()`.
395 Also, you should call `RUN_ALL_TESTS()` only **once**. Calling it more than once
396 conflicts with some advanced Google Test features (e.g. thread-safe death
397 tests) and thus is not supported.
399 _Availability_: Linux, Windows, Mac.
401 # Writing the main() Function #
403 You can start from this boilerplate:
405 #include "this/package/foo.h"
406 #include "gtest/gtest.h"
410 // The fixture for testing class Foo.
411 class FooTest : public ::testing::Test {
413 // You can remove any or all of the following functions if its body
417 // You can do set-up work for each test here.
421 // You can do clean-up work that doesn't throw exceptions here.
424 // If the constructor and destructor are not enough for setting up
425 // and cleaning up each test, you can define the following methods:
427 virtual void SetUp() {
428 // Code here will be called immediately after the constructor (right
429 // before each test).
432 virtual void TearDown() {
433 // Code here will be called immediately after each test (right
434 // before the destructor).
437 // Objects declared here can be used by all tests in the test case for Foo.
440 // Tests that the Foo::Bar() method does Abc.
441 TEST_F(FooTest, MethodBarDoesAbc) {
442 const string input_filepath = "this/package/testdata/myinputfile.dat";
443 const string output_filepath = "this/package/testdata/myoutputfile.dat";
445 EXPECT_EQ(0, f.Bar(input_filepath, output_filepath));
448 // Tests that Foo does Xyz.
449 TEST_F(FooTest, DoesXyz) {
450 // Exercises the Xyz feature of Foo.
455 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
456 ::testing::InitGoogleTest(&argc, argv);
457 return RUN_ALL_TESTS();
461 The `::testing::InitGoogleTest()` function parses the command line for Google
462 Test flags, and removes all recognized flags. This allows the user to control a
463 test program's behavior via various flags, which we'll cover in [AdvancedGuide](AdvancedGuide.md).
464 You must call this function before calling `RUN_ALL_TESTS()`, or the flags
465 won't be properly initialized.
467 On Windows, `InitGoogleTest()` also works with wide strings, so it can be used
468 in programs compiled in `UNICODE` mode as well.
470 But maybe you think that writing all those main() functions is too much work? We agree with you completely and that's why Google Test provides a basic implementation of main(). If it fits your needs, then just link your test with gtest\_main library and you are good to go.
472 ## Important note for Visual C++ users ##
473 If you put your tests into a library and your `main()` function is in a different library or in your .exe file, those tests will not run. The reason is a [bug](https://connect.microsoft.com/feedback/viewfeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=244410&siteid=210) in Visual C++. When you define your tests, Google Test creates certain static objects to register them. These objects are not referenced from elsewhere but their constructors are still supposed to run. When Visual C++ linker sees that nothing in the library is referenced from other places it throws the library out. You have to reference your library with tests from your main program to keep the linker from discarding it. Here is how to do it. Somewhere in your library code declare a function:
475 __declspec(dllexport) int PullInMyLibrary() { return 0; }
477 If you put your tests in a static library (not DLL) then `__declspec(dllexport)` is not required. Now, in your main program, write a code that invokes that function:
479 int PullInMyLibrary();
480 static int dummy = PullInMyLibrary();
482 This will keep your tests referenced and will make them register themselves at startup.
484 In addition, if you define your tests in a static library, add `/OPT:NOREF` to your main program linker options. If you use MSVC++ IDE, go to your .exe project properties/Configuration Properties/Linker/Optimization and set References setting to `Keep Unreferenced Data (/OPT:NOREF)`. This will keep Visual C++ linker from discarding individual symbols generated by your tests from the final executable.
486 There is one more pitfall, though. If you use Google Test as a static library (that's how it is defined in gtest.vcproj) your tests must also reside in a static library. If you have to have them in a DLL, you _must_ change Google Test to build into a DLL as well. Otherwise your tests will not run correctly or will not run at all. The general conclusion here is: make your life easier - do not write your tests in libraries!
488 # Where to Go from Here #
490 Congratulations! You've learned the Google Test basics. You can start writing
491 and running Google Test tests, read some [samples](Samples.md), or continue with
492 [AdvancedGuide](AdvancedGuide.md), which describes many more useful Google Test features.
494 # Known Limitations #
496 Google Test is designed to be thread-safe. The implementation is
497 thread-safe on systems where the `pthreads` library is available. It
498 is currently _unsafe_ to use Google Test assertions from two threads
499 concurrently on other systems (e.g. Windows). In most tests this is
500 not an issue as usually the assertions are done in the main thread. If
501 you want to help, you can volunteer to implement the necessary
502 synchronization primitives in `gtest-port.h` for your platform.