Best practices for creating feature tests in Laravel

1. Test the User's Perspective

   • Write tests that mimic real user interactions. This ensures your application behaves as expected from the user's point of view.

2. Use Descriptive Test Names

   • Use clear and descriptive names for your test methods. For example, test_user_can_view_dashboard() is better than test_dashboard().

3. Leverage Laravel's Testing Helpers

   • Use Laravel's built-in testing helpers like $this->get(), $this->post(), $this->actingAs(), etc., to simplify your tests.

4. Test Common Scenarios

   • Cover common scenarios like successful actions, validation errors, unauthorized access, etc.

5. Keep Tests Isolated

   • Each test should be independent. Avoid relying on the state from previous tests. Use RefreshDatabase trait to reset the database state between tests.

6. Test Happy and Unhappy Paths

   • Ensure you test both successful and failing cases. For instance, check that a user can submit a form and that errors are shown when required fields are missing.

7. Use Factories and Seeders

   • Use model factories to create the necessary data for your tests. This keeps your tests clean and makes it easy to modify test data.

8. Avoid Testing Third-Party APIs Directly

   • Mock external API calls using tools like Http::fake() to avoid slow and unreliable tests.

9. Keep Tests Fast

   • Feature tests can be slower than unit tests, so be mindful of the time your tests take to run. Optimize where possible, such as by reducing the number of database queries or limiting the scope of what's being tested.

10. Run Tests Frequently

    • Run your feature tests frequently during development to catch issues early. Consider integrating them into your CI/CD pipeline.

11. Document What You’re Testing

    • Include comments if a test is complex or non-obvious, explaining what is being tested and why.

12. Use Assertions Judiciously

    • Use the right assertions to check for expected outcomes. For example, use assertSee() to check if certain text is present on a page, assertRedirect() for redirects, etc.

13. Group Related Tests

    • Organize related feature tests in logical groups. For example, group all tests related to user authentication in a single test class.

14. Mocking Non-Essential Parts

    • Mock non-essential parts like event dispatching, notifications, or third-party services that aren’t directly related to what you’re testing.

15. Continuous Refactoring

    • Regularly refactor your test code to remove duplication and keep it maintainable. This helps to keep tests readable and easy to manage as your application grows.