Running tests (pytest command) - Framework Patterns

Framework Mode - Running tests (pytest command)

Folder Structure

tests/
├── test_example.py
├── test_login.py
├── test_checkout.py
conftest.py
pytest.ini
requirements.txt

This is a simple pytest project structure. All test files are inside the tests/ folder. The conftest.py file holds shared fixtures and hooks. The pytest.ini file contains pytest configuration.

Test Framework Layers

• Test files: Contain test functions or classes starting with test_. These are the actual tests pytest runs.
• Fixtures (conftest.py): Setup and teardown code shared across tests, like preparing test data or opening a browser.
• Helpers/Utilities: Optional Python modules with reusable functions to keep tests clean.
• Configuration: Files like pytest.ini to customize pytest behavior.

Configuration Patterns

• pytest.ini file to set default options, e.g., test paths, markers, or verbosity.
• Use environment variables or pytest command-line options to select environments or browsers.
• conftest.py fixtures can read config values and provide them to tests.
• Example pytest.ini content:

  [pytest]
  addopts = -v --maxfail=2
  markers =
      smoke: quick smoke tests
      regression: full regression suite
  

Test Reporting and CI/CD Integration

• Pytest outputs test results in the console by default (pass/fail with details).
• Use plugins like pytest-html to generate HTML reports for easy reading.
• Integrate pytest commands in CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins) to run tests automatically on code changes.
• Example command to run tests and generate HTML report:

  pytest tests/ --html=report.html --self-contained-html

Best Practices

• Keep test names descriptive and start with test_ so pytest can find them easily.
• Use pytest.ini to avoid repeating command-line options every time.
• Run tests often during development to catch issues early.
• Use markers to group tests and run subsets (e.g., smoke tests) quickly.
• Keep tests independent so they can run in any order without failing.

Self Check

Where in this framework structure would you add a new fixture to open a browser before tests?

Key Result

Use pytest command to run tests organized in the tests/ folder with configuration in pytest.ini and shared fixtures in conftest.py.