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Beginner's Guide to Unit Testing

Dylan Israel

Code with confidence and lower your stress levels by learning how to test your code as you write it!

Unit testing is in high demand, with good reason! Testing your code allows you to check that your logic works as expected every time, giving you code confidence, lowering stress levels, and allowing you to deliver faster results.

The earlier you start incorporating unit tests into your code base, the better - but it’s never too late. That means that this course is suitable for both newbie coders and those already working in the field who want to level up.

Read more

Code with confidence and lower your stress levels by learning how to test your code as you write it!

Unit testing is in high demand, with good reason! Testing your code allows you to check that your logic works as expected every time, giving you code confidence, lowering stress levels, and allowing you to deliver faster results.

The earlier you start incorporating unit tests into your code base, the better - but it’s never too late. That means that this course is suitable for both newbie coders and those already working in the field who want to level up.

This course covers test grouping, test cases, debugging tests with focus, spies, and more in just one hour, plus it offers plenty of challenges to cement your new knowledge. You’ll also learn about the 3 A’s (Arrange, Act, Assert), and write plenty of tests.

Knowledge of Unit Testing removes coding doubts, leads to faster development, and reduces bugs, so do your future self a favor and learn Unit Testing today.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Beginner's Guide to Unit Testing
Code with confidence and lower your stress levels by learning how to test your code as you write it.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Covers test grouping, test cases, debugging tests with focus, and spies, which are essential for writing robust and reliable code
Explores the 3 A's (Arrange, Act, Assert), which provides a structured approach to writing effective unit tests and ensuring code quality
Offers plenty of challenges to cement new knowledge, which is helpful for learners to apply concepts and reinforce their understanding of unit testing

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Beginner's Guide to Unit Testing with these activities:
Review Basic Programming Concepts
Reinforce fundamental programming concepts like variables, data types, and control flow to better understand the code being tested.
Browse courses on Variables
Show steps
  • Review online tutorials on basic programming concepts.
  • Practice writing simple programs using these concepts.
Write Unit Tests for Simple Functions
Practice writing unit tests for simple functions to solidify understanding of the testing process.
Show steps
  • Choose a few simple functions you've written before.
  • Write unit tests for these functions using the 3 A's (Arrange, Act, Assert).
  • Run the tests and debug any failures.
Write a Blog Post on Unit Testing
Write a blog post explaining the benefits of unit testing and how to get started to solidify your understanding and share your knowledge.
Show steps
  • Outline the key points you want to cover in your blog post.
  • Write the blog post, including examples and code snippets.
  • Publish your blog post on a platform like Medium or your own website.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Create a Unit Testing Project
Start a small project that requires unit testing to reinforce the concepts learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Choose a small project to work on.
  • Write unit tests as you develop the project.
  • Refactor your code based on the test results.
Explore Advanced Unit Testing Techniques
Follow tutorials on advanced unit testing techniques like mocking and integration testing to expand your knowledge.
Show steps
  • Find tutorials on mocking frameworks.
  • Implement mocking in your unit tests.
  • Explore integration testing concepts.
Read 'Working Effectively with Legacy Code'
Learn strategies for testing legacy code to apply unit testing principles in real-world scenarios.
View Brutal Refactoring on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book 'Working Effectively with Legacy Code'.
  • Identify techniques applicable to your own projects.
  • Apply these techniques to improve the testability of your code.

Career center

Learners who complete Beginner's Guide to Unit Testing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Test Automation Engineer
The principles of unit testing are central to the role of a test automation engineer. This course will be useful to a test automation engineer for its lessons on test grouping, test cases, debugging tests, and spies, which are all helpful when developing and maintaining automated tests. A test automation engineer uses these skills to ensure the reliability of software. This course focuses on the 3 A's of testing and emphasizes writing plenty of tests, which helps a test automation engineer create better tests for all parts of an application. A test automation engineer needs to have confidence that their testing is comprehensive, and skills learned in this course can help ensure that.
See salaries and explore the career path for Test Automation Engineer
Software Engineer
The role of software engineer can be improved with a course that covers unit testing, as unit testing enables the creation of sound architectural design. This course specifically covers test grouping, test cases, debugging tests, and spies which are all helpful when building complex systems. A software engineer who employs these techniques will see improvements both in speed of development and reliability of code. The course specifically teaches the 3 A’s (Arrange, Act, Assert), which are critical to writing effective tests. The software engineer, with knowledge of unit testing, can reduce coding doubts and build more robust and effective software.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer
Software Developer
A software developer creates applications and systems, and this course helps in this role by emphasizing the importance of writing reliable and maintainable code. The principles of unit testing will help a software developer ensure that each component of their code functions as expected. This course teaches test grouping, debugging tests, and the 3 A's of testing, all of which help a software developer build higher quality software. By testing as they code, software developers reduce bugs and deliver faster results. A software developer who takes this course will gain the ability to write more effective and resilient code while improving their ability to debug issues with software logic.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer
Full-Stack Developer
A full stack developer will find this course on unit testing to be very useful for their daily work. This course teaches test grouping, test cases, debugging tests, and spies, which are all skills used when writing and verifying code across an entire application stack. A full stack developer who uses these techniques can ensure the code they write works as intended at each level of their system. This course covers the 3 A’s (Arrange, Act, Assert), which are vital for creating effective and reliable testing. For a full stack developer who wants to write more robust code, this course is a good investment.
See salaries and explore the career path for Full-Stack Developer
Backend Developer
A backend developer builds the server-side logic of applications, and this course on unit testing helps them create more robust and reliable server-side code. This course teaches test grouping, test cases, and debugging tests, all of which are techniques that a backend developer can use for their work. A backend developer who uses unit testing can catch issues early and thereby reduce the time spent debugging. This course places special attention on the 3 A's, which are key to writing effective tests. A backend developer who takes this course will be better able to write dependable and efficient code for all the server-side functionality of an application.
See salaries and explore the career path for Backend Developer
Mobile Application Developer
A mobile application developer will find this unit testing course to be valuable since they need to create robust and well-tested applications for mobile devices. This course covers test grouping, test cases, and debugging tests, which are all important when working on mobile apps. A mobile application developer who understands unit testing will be able to reduce errors in their codebase. The 3 A’s (Arrange, Act, Assert), which are taught in the course, are a foundation for effective testing. A mobile application developer who has this practical knowledge will ensure a better user experience for users.
See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile Application Developer
Frontend Developer
Frontend developers build the user facing components of web applications, and this course can help them write code that is less prone to errors. The skills taught in this course, including test grouping, test cases and debugging tests, are directly applicable to testing the user interface components of a web application. A frontend developer who understands unit testing can release features faster with greater reliability. The course also specifically covers how to apply the 3 A's in testing, which aids in the creation of better tests. A frontend developer who takes this course can be more confident that their code is working as expected.
See salaries and explore the career path for Frontend Developer
Quality Assurance Engineer
A quality assurance engineer will find that a course in unit testing helps them with their duties as they strive to ensure the quality of software. This course covers the basics of unit testing, including test grouping, test cases, and debugging tests, which are all important skills for a quality assurance engineer. A quality assurance engineer who understands unit testing will be better equipped to develop and implement effective testing strategies. The course teaches the 3 A’s (Arrange, Act, Assert), which is critical to understanding how to write and conduct a test. This course may also prove useful in finding potential bugs earlier in development, thereby reducing the costs associated with late-stage debugging.
See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Engineer
Web Developer
A web developer will find a course in unit testing useful as they need to write reliable and bug free code for web applications. This course covers test grouping, test cases, debugging tests, and more, which are all important for the web developer who wants confidence in their work. A web developer who uses unit tests can reduce bugs and deliver faster results. This course covers the 3 A’s (Arrange, Act, Assert), which are the foundation of effective testing. This course may be useful in helping any web developer build robust and reliable websites and web applications.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer
DevOps Engineer
A DevOps engineer will find a course in unit testing useful, as unit testing can improve the deployment pipeline and ensure more stable releases. This course covers test grouping, test cases and debugging tests, which are all helpful to a DevOps engineer who wants to ensure system reliability. A DevOps engineer who understands unit testing can more effectively automate testing processes. The unit testing principles covered in this course, including the 3 A's of testing and writing plenty of tests, help a DevOps engineer create a more robust testing infrastructure. These skills help DevOps engineers to ensure more reliable system deployments.
See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer
Machine Learning Engineer
Machine learning engineers can benefit from the knowledge gained from a course in unit testing as they need to ensure the reliability of their models and pipelines. This course covers test grouping, test cases, and debugging tests, which are all very applicable when developing machine learning systems. A machine learning engineer who takes this course will be able to write more robust, scalable, and dependable code for their projects. The course also teaches the 3 A’s (Arrange, Act, Assert), which can promote the creation of effective testing frameworks for machine learning systems. This course may be useful to a machine learning engineer who is focused on achieving high quality results with their work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer
Game Developer
A game developer who wants to write more reliable game logic will find a course in unit testing to be helpful. This course teaches test grouping, test cases, debugging tests, and spies, which a game developer needs to verify parts of the game engine and gameplay mechanics. A game developer using unit tests can catch issues before they become difficult to resolve. This course specifically discusses the 3 A’s (Arrange, Act, Assert), which are relevant in the development of a test suite for a game engine. This course may be useful for a game developer who wants to ensure the quality of their work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer
Embedded Systems Engineer
Embedded systems engineers will find a course in unit testing useful for its insights into verifying the reliability of their code. This course covers a range of unit testing techniques, including test grouping, debugging test and spies, all of which help an embedded systems engineer write robust code. This course teaches the 3 A’s (Arrange, Act, Assert) as a foundation for testing. This course will be useful to an embedded systems engineer who needs to write code which is reliable enough to be used in a wide range of hardware and software applications.
See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer
Solution Architect
A solution architect will find that a course in unit testing is useful, as it promotes better software architecture by ensuring modules are easily testable. This course covers test grouping, test cases, debugging tests, and spies, all of which are techniques used to verify the quality of software. A solution architect who understands unit testing can design systems that are more modular, testable, and maintainable. The course specifically teaches the 3 A's of testing, which can help a solution architect establish effective testing standards for systems they work on. This course may be useful in improving the overall quality of a solution that a solution architect designs.
See salaries and explore the career path for Solution Architect
Data Scientist
A data scientist will find the lessons of this course in unit testing helpful, as data pipelines and algorithms also require testing. This course covers test grouping, test cases, debugging tests, and spies, and all those elements are applicable to data science projects which require reliable and reproducible results. A data scientist who takes this course will be able to write more maintainable and debuggable code that forms the basis of their data analysis. The course teaches practical skills like focusing on the 3 A's of testing, which will help a data scientist ensure the accuracy of their work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Beginner's Guide to Unit Testing.
Brutal Refactoring
Save
Provides strategies for testing code that was not originally designed for testability. It valuable resource for understanding how to introduce unit tests into existing codebases. This book is commonly used by industry professionals. It adds depth to the course by addressing real-world scenarios where unit testing can be challenging.
Brutal Refactoring
Paperback
Check
Brutal Refactoring
Kindle Edition
Check

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Level
Intermediate
Via
Coursera
Institution
Scrimba
Instructor
Dylan Israel
Session
February 3, 2025 - February 17, 2025
Language
English
Good to know
Covers test grouping, test cases, debugging tests with focus, and spies, which are essential for writing robust and reliable code
Explores the 3 A's (Arrange, Act, Assert), which provides a structured approach to writing effective unit tests and ensuring code quality
Offers plenty of challenges to cement new knowledge, which is helpful for learners to apply concepts and reinforce their understanding of unit testing
Share and help others discover this course.
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