Overview
The unittest module is Python's built-in unit testing framework. Inspired by JUnit, it offers a structured way to write and organize test cases. Key components include: test fixtures (setup/teardown), test cases (individual tests), test suites (collections of tests), and test runners (execution and reporting). It supports test automation, sharing setup and shutdown code, aggregating tests, and independence from reporting frameworks. Using TestCase classes, developers can define test methods that assert expected outcomes using methods like assertEqual, assertTrue, and assertRaises. The framework includes a command-line interface for running tests and provides options for verbosity, buffering output, and fail-fast execution. Integration with CI/CD systems like Buildbot and Jenkins is common for automated testing in production environments, ensuring code quality and reliability.
Common tasks