Component and Unit Testing: What’s the Difference?
These two testing terms are often used simply as synonyms. However, they have different meanings that are independent of one another. Component testing concerns a single component in isolation from other components. Unit testing deals with testing an individual unit of code (the smallest testable part; for example, a method).
Testing can be performed on an individual component (component testing), or on the unit of code that is used to create a component and encapsulate its business logic. Component testing deals with the interaction between different components, while unit testing looks for defects in this interaction.
Testing can be performed after creating a component using automated tools (unit tests) or by manually testing each individual component (component tests). Automated unit testing is a more effective approach than manual component testing, especially for complex and large-scale applications. However, manual component testing provides insights into how the application works in practice, which can help identify problems that may arise during runtime.
What is Component Testing?
Component testing consists of testing a program component in isolation by removing interactions with other components. Component tests are typically set up using test doubles that are used as stand-ins for real classes. In the case of acceptance or integration tests, these may be mock objects (mock objects simulate the behavior of real objects and provide a simpler way to construct unit tests) or test stubs (test stubs are used to verify that the correct arguments have been passed to a target object).
What is Unit Testing?
Unit testing is a testing technique that focuses on an individual unit of code (the smallest testable part; for example, a method). It aims to identify defects in this specific unit of code and its interactions with other units. Unit tests are created using automated tools or manually.
Automated unit tests are often used as regression tests (that is, to find out if new code breaks already-existing code, or whether the addition of a feature has had an unexpected effect on existing functionality) and as part of continuous integration (to verify that changes to one component do not affect other components). Unit tests can also be used to test custom software components.
Difference Between Component Component and Unit Testing:
Let’s go through the key difference between Component and Unit Testing.
Objectives
The objective of component testing is functional verification and integration. The main aim of unit tests is to find defects in individual units of code (that is, methods) and their interaction with other components, as well as to ensure the application’s continued compatibility with its own software components.
Application Size
Component tests are suitable for small applications (where it is much quicker and easier to set up component tests than unit tests). Unit tests are more effective for large-scale applications, as unit tests are more flexible and easier to use – you can create them according to the specific application functionality so that they will be better suited for detecting defects.
Method Complexity
Component testing does not require a deep understanding of the code and is more convenient for developers. Component tests are simpler to execute, in comparison with unit tests – their complexity comes from ensuring that there is an actual interaction between multiple components. As a result, unit tests are better suited for testing custom code written especially for the application (such as the code of a reusable library).
Component testing takes place at the application level, while unit tests are more granular – they exist at the method level. Therefore, component testing is applicable for business logic (for example, changes in an order form), but not to methods such as getter and setter. Since unit tests follow the principle “one assertion per test”, they can be used to check the smallest unit of code, while component tests cannot.
Test Approach
Component tests provide a more holistic view of the application. Because unit tests are granular, their result may not reflect the real behavior of an application in practice. In addition, test assertions in unit tests are isolated: they do not depend upon each other and can be executed independently. When creating component tests, we need to ensure that the entire application will work as a whole, and the interaction between different components must also be taken into account.
Testing Data
Another distinguishing feature between unit and component tests is the scope of data to be tested. While unit test data can be hard-coded, component tests depend on actual application data. This can have a positive effect on a system’s stability: if code is faulty in one situation but works correctly in another, you should verify that it still works correctly in both situations. For
Testing Code Paths
Component tests can only check whether the main code path works; it does not verify that different paths of execution do not exist. Unit tests will catch situations that component tests do not cover.
Component and Unit Testing: Which is the best?
There is no straightforward answer to this as it depends on the nature of a project and the team’s preferences. Unit tests are usually more flexible in terms of letting you test your code however you want. Component tests are easier to set up, but with them, you may not be sure if all components have been integrated correctly (this can be a risk if you have many components or complex ones).
Present-day software development approaches are quite flexible on this matter. The most popular approach combines the two approaches in such a way that unit tests serve as component tests for small units of code, and component tests check the functionality of the entire application.
Testing Strategy Considerations: What to do?
As we have seen, unit and component tests can both detect bugs in your code. It goes without saying that you should not neglect any of the two types; instead, implement a strategy for testing which is tailored to your project. The choice between the two approaches depends on various factors: working experience of team members, current software development technologies, project requirements, etc.
Unit Testing in Practice: Final Considerations
The unit testing approach is extremely important for developers. Regardless of which test type you choose to implement, ensure that all your code undergoes testing. Unit or component – whatever the case may be, it will serve as objective evidence that will help you avoid future mistakes and bugs in your code. In addition, it will also enhance the quality of your product!
