Test-driven development (TDD) is a software development approach in which tests are written before the actual implementation of the code. The tests are designed to define the code’s expected behavior and are used to guide the development process. This approach encourages developers to write code that is easy to test and maintain and helps catch bugs and errors early in the development process.
Test-driven Development (TDD) is a cyclical process:
- Write a test case that defines a small code’s expected behavior.
- Run the test and ensure it fails, as the code has not been implemented yet.
- Write the minimum amount of code needed to pass the test.
- Rerun the test and ensure that it passes.
- Refactor the code, if necessary, to improve its design, readability, and maintainability.
- Repeat the process for the next small piece of code.
TDD helps to ensure that the code is well-structured, easy to understand, and easy to change. It also helps to prevent regressions, as the tests will catch any changes to the code, making the development process more efficient by catching bugs and errors early in the development process.
The benefits of TDD are:
- Encourages developers to write modular and testable code.
- It helps to catch bugs early and saves time and effort in the long run.
- Improves code quality and maintainability.
- It makes the development process more efficient and agile.
- Increases developer’s confidence in making changes to the code.
Also, See: Waterfall Development Model