@pytest.mark.skip with reason - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does @pytest.mark.skip do in a test?

It tells pytest to skip running the test function it decorates. The test will be ignored during test execution.

beginner

How do you provide a reason for skipping a test with @pytest.mark.skip?

You add a reason argument like @pytest.mark.skip(reason='Not ready yet'). This shows why the test was skipped in the test report.

beginner

Write a simple example of skipping a test with a reason using @pytest.mark.skip.

import pytest

@pytest.mark.skip(reason='Feature not implemented')
def test_feature():
    assert False

beginner

What will the test report show when a test is skipped with a reason?

The test report will mark the test as skipped and display the reason given in the @pytest.mark.skip(reason='...') decorator.

intermediate

Can @pytest.mark.skip be used conditionally? If not, what is the alternative?

No, @pytest.mark.skip always skips the test. To skip conditionally, use @pytest.mark.skipif(condition, reason='...').

What happens when you run a test decorated with @pytest.mark.skip(reason='Not ready')?

A The test is skipped and the reason is shown in the report.

B The test runs but logs the reason.

C The test fails with the reason as error.

D The test runs normally without skipping.

Using @pytest.mark.skip skips the test and shows the reason in the test report.

Which of these is the correct way to skip a test with a reason?

A @pytest.mark.skip('Bug found')

B @pytest.mark.skipif(reason='Bug found')

C @pytest.skip(reason='Bug found')

D @pytest.mark.skip(reason='Bug found')

The correct syntax is @pytest.mark.skip(reason='...').

If you want to skip a test only on Windows OS, which decorator should you use?

A @pytest.mark.skipif(reason='Windows OS')

B @pytest.mark.skip(reason='Windows OS')

C @pytest.mark.skipif(sys.platform == 'win32', reason='Windows OS')

D @pytest.mark.skipif(True)

Use @pytest.mark.skipif(condition, reason='...') to skip conditionally.

What is the difference between @pytest.mark.skip and @pytest.mark.skipif?

A No difference, both behave the same.

B skip always skips; skipif skips only if condition is true.

C skipif always skips; skip skips conditionally.

D skip runs the test; skipif skips the test.

@pytest.mark.skip always skips; @pytest.mark.skipif skips only if the condition is true.

What will happen if you forget to provide a reason in @pytest.mark.skip?

A The test will be skipped without a reason shown.

B The test will run normally.

C Pytest will raise an error.

D The test will fail.

The test is skipped but no reason is shown if you omit the reason argument.

Explain how to skip a test in pytest and provide a reason for skipping.

Think about how to tell pytest not to run a test and why.

Describe the difference between @pytest.mark.skip and @pytest.mark.skipif and when to use each.

Consider when you want to skip a test unconditionally vs conditionally.

Practice

1. What does the decorator @pytest.mark.skip(reason="some reason") do in a pytest test function?

easy

A. It skips the test and shows the given reason in the test report.

B. It runs the test but logs the reason as a warning.

C. It marks the test to run only if the reason is true.

D. It deletes the test from the test suite.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of @pytest.mark.skip

   This decorator tells pytest to skip running the test function it decorates.

2. Step 2: Reason parameter usage

   The reason string is shown in the test report to explain why the test was skipped.

3. Final Answer:

   It skips the test and shows the given reason in the test report. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   @pytest.mark.skip(reason=...) skips test with reason [OK]

Hint: Skip tests with reason to explain why [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it runs the test but logs reason
• Confusing skip with conditional run
• Assuming it deletes the test

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to skip a test using the named argument `reason="Not implemented yet"` using pytest?

easy

A. @pytest.mark.skip_test(reason="Not implemented yet")

B. @pytest.mark.skip("Not implemented yet")

C. @pytest.skip(reason="Not implemented yet")

D. @pytest.mark.skip(reason="Not implemented yet")

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall correct decorator syntax

   The correct decorator is @pytest.mark.skip with a named argument reason="...".

2. Step 2: Check each option

   @pytest.mark.skip(reason="Not implemented yet") uses the correct decorator and named argument syntax. Others are either missing the named argument or use incorrect decorator names.

3. Final Answer:

   @pytest.mark.skip(reason="Not implemented yet") -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use @pytest.mark.skip(reason=...) syntax [OK]

Hint: Use named argument reason="..." with @pytest.mark.skip [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing reason as positional argument
• Using @pytest.skip instead of @pytest.mark.skip
• Using wrong decorator names

3. What will be the output when running this pytest code?

import pytest

@pytest.mark.skip(reason="Feature not ready")
def test_feature():
    assert 1 == 1


def test_other():
    assert 2 == 2

medium

A. Both tests run and pass.

B. test_feature is skipped with reason; test_other runs and passes.

C. Both tests are skipped.

D. test_feature fails; test_other passes.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify skipped test

   The decorator skips test_feature with the given reason, so it does not run.

2. Step 2: Check other test behavior

   test_other has no skip decorator, so it runs and passes.

3. Final Answer:

   test_feature is skipped with reason; test_other runs and passes. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Skipped test does not run; others run normally [OK]

Hint: Skipped tests do not run but appear in reports [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming skipped tests run
• Thinking all tests skip if one is skipped
• Confusing skip with fail

4. Identify the error in this pytest code snippet:

import pytest

@pytest.mark.skip "Not ready"
def test_example():
    assert True

medium

A. Missing parentheses after @pytest.mark.skip

B. Reason should be passed as a named argument, not positional.

C. The test function must have parameters to use skip.

D. The assert statement is incorrect.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check decorator syntax

   The decorator is written as @pytest.mark.skip "Not ready" without parentheses around the argument, causing a syntax error.

2. Step 2: Correct usage

   Valid syntax is @pytest.mark.skip("Not ready") or @pytest.mark.skip(reason="Not ready").

3. Final Answer:

   Missing parentheses after @pytest.mark.skip -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Always use parentheses for decorator arguments [OK]

Hint: Always use reason= keyword with @pytest.mark.skip [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Missing parentheses after @pytest.mark.skip
• Passing reason as positional argument
• Misusing decorator syntax

5. You want to skip a test only if a certain environment variable SKIP_TEST is set to "true", and provide the reason "Skipped due to env setting". Which pytest code correctly implements this?

hard

A. import os
import pytest

if os.getenv('SKIP_TEST') == 'true':
@pytest.mark.skip(reason="Skipped due to env setting")
def test_conditional():
assert True

B. import os
import pytest

@pytest.mark.skip(reason="Skipped due to env setting")
def test_conditional():
assert True

C. import os
import pytest

@pytest.mark.skipif(os.getenv('SKIP_TEST') == 'true', reason="Skipped due to env setting")
def test_conditional():
assert True

D. import os
import pytest

@pytest.skipif(reason="Skipped due to env setting")
def test_conditional():
assert True

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand conditional skipping

   To skip a test based on a condition, use @pytest.mark.skipif(condition, reason=...).

2. Step 2: Check each option

   import os import pytest @pytest.mark.skipif(os.getenv('SKIP_TEST') == 'true', reason="Skipped due to env setting") def test_conditional(): assert True correctly uses skipif with the environment variable condition and reason. import os import pytest @pytest.mark.skip(reason="Skipped due to env setting") def test_conditional(): assert True always skips. import os import pytest if os.getenv('SKIP_TEST') == 'true': @pytest.mark.skip(reason="Skipped due to env setting") def test_conditional(): assert True tries to conditionally decorate but syntax is invalid. import os import pytest @pytest.skipif(reason="Skipped due to env setting") def test_conditional(): assert True uses wrong decorator name.

3. Final Answer:

   Use @pytest.mark.skipif with condition and reason. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use skipif(condition, reason=...) for conditional skip [OK]

Hint: Use @pytest.mark.skipif for conditional skipping [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using skip instead of skipif for conditions
• Incorrect decorator syntax
• Trying to conditionally decorate inside if-block