What Is Junit? a Look Into the Best Java Testing Framework

JUnit has set a benchmark when it comes to testing Java applications. Since JUnit is compatible with almost all IDE's, organizations worldwide have adopted it to perform unit testing in the Java Programming Language. In this article titled “What is JUnit”, you will explore all the relevant topics needed to get a firm understanding of JUnit.

What is JUnit?

JUnit is a unit testing open-source framework for the Java programming language. Java Developers use this framework to write and execute automated tests. In Java, there are test cases that have to be re-executed every time a new code is added. This is done to make sure that nothing in the code is broken. 

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JUnit has several graphs that represent the progress of a test. When the test runs smoothly, the graph displays a green color, and it turns red if the test fails. JUnit Testing enables developers to develop highly reliable and bug-free code.

bug_Free_JUnit

JUnit plays a huge role when it comes to regression testing. Regression Testing is a type of software testing that checks if the recent changes made to the code do not adversely affect the previously written code.

To have a better answer to the question ‘What is JUnit’, let's have a look at what Unit Testing is.

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What is Unit Testing?

Unit testing, as the name suggests, refers to the testing of small segments of code. Here, a unit indicates the smallest bit of code that can be fetched out of the system. This small bit can be a line of the code, a method, or a class. The smaller the chunk of code, the better it is, as smaller chunks will tend to run faster. And this provides a better insight into the code and its performance. 

JUnit_Unit_Testing

When the chunk is small, it is easy to identify the defects from the dormant phase itself. The developers now spend more time reading the code than writing it. A successful code boosts the confidence of the developer and makes them work better.

What is the need for JUnit Testing?

The top reasons to take up JUnit Testing are:

  • To find bugs early in the development phase, which increases the code’s reliability
  • The framework enables the developer to invest more time in reading the code than writing it

JUnitFramework

  • This makes the code more readable, reliable, and bug-free
  • It boosts the confidence of the developer and motivates them immensely

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Features of JUnit

There are several features of JUnit that make it so popular. Some of them are as follows:

  • Open Source Network: 

JUnit is an open-source network that enables developers to write codes fast and with better quality.

  • Provides Annotations: 

It provides several annotations to identify test methods.

  • Provides Assertions:

There are assertions to test expected results.

  • Provides Test Runners:

 JUnit has test runners to run tests.

JUnit_Test_Runners

  • Improves Code Quality: 

JUnit is the most popular testing framework for efficient testing. It allows faster code writing, which results in an increase in the code’s quality. 

  • Automated Test Running: 

The test results do not require manual checking. All the tests run automatically on JUnit, the results obtained again automatically checked, and it provides feedback.

JUnit_Automated_Results

  • Easily interpretable results: 

The test results are represented interactively by showing test progress in a bar, thus making them easily interpretable.

Moving on, let's have a look at JUnit Annotations.

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JUnit Annotations

  • JUnit Annotations refer to the syntactic meta-data added to the Java source code for better structure and readability. Here, syntactic meta-data refers to the type of data representing the structure of a file with references to bytes, data types, and data structures.
  • The main point of difference between JUnit4 and JUnit3 is the introduction of  Junit Annotations. 

JUnitAnnotations1

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Conclusion

By now, you would have learned all the basic concepts needed to start with JUnit. This article also proves why JUnit is so important when it comes to automated testing. You also saw the distinct features of JUnit and what makes one version of JUnit different from the other. Finally, you understood what JUnit Annotations are, and also saw a few of them.

To learn more about JUnit, you can check this JUnit Tutorial. This includes some hands-on demo that shows you how testing occurs in Java and Eclipse.

If you have any questions for us, do let us know in the comments section of the “What is JUnit” article. Our experts will answer them for you as soon as possible.

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About the Author

Ishan GabaIshan Gaba

Ishan Gaba is a Research Analyst at Simplilearn. He is proficient in Java Programming, Data Structures, and Project Management. Graduated in Information Technology, Ishan is also passionate about writing and traveling.

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