Automated Testing with PHPUnit and Laravel Dusk

Automated testing is a critical part of modern web development, ensuring the reliability and stability of your application. In this guide, we will explore how to use PHPUnit and Laravel Dusk for effective testing in a Laravel project.

What is PHPUnit?

PHPUnit is a testing framework for PHP that allows developers to write unit tests for their code. It comes pre-installed with Laravel and is perfect for testing individual components and logic.

Setting Up PHPUnit in Laravel

Laravel includes PHPUnit by default. Ensure it's installed via Composer:

composer require --dev phpunit/phpunit

Writing a Basic Test

Create a test file using the artisan command:

php artisan make:test ExampleTest

A basic test example (tests/Feature/ExampleTest.php):

<?php

namespace Tests\Feature;

use Tests\TestCase;

class ExampleTest extends TestCase
{
    public function test_homepage_loads_correctly()
    {
        $response = $this->get('/');
        $response->assertStatus(200);
    }

    public function test_redirect_from_homepage()
    {
        $response = $this->get('/');
        $response->assertRedirect('/dashboard');
    }

    public function test_api_endpoint_returns_data()
    {
        $response = $this->getJson('/api/users');
        $response->assertStatus(200)
                 ->assertJsonStructure([
                     '*' => ['id', 'name', 'email']
                 ]);
    }
}

Run the tests:

php artisan test

What is Laravel Dusk?

Laravel Dusk is a browser automation testing tool for Laravel, built on top of Selenium. It allows developers to test web interfaces and user interactions directly in a browser.

Installing Laravel Dusk

composer require --dev laravel/dusk
php artisan dusk:install

Setting Up Dusk Environment

Ensure the .env file has the proper settings for Dusk:

APP_ENV=testing
APP_DEBUG=true

Writing Basic Dusk Tests

Create a new Dusk test:

php artisan dusk:make LoginTest

Example test (tests/Browser/LoginTest.php):

<?php

namespace Tests\Browser;

use Laravel\Dusk\Browser;
use Tests\DuskTestCase;

class LoginTest extends DuskTestCase
{
    public function test_user_can_login()
    {
        $this->browse(function (Browser $browser) {
            $browser->visit('/login')
                ->type('email', '[email protected]')
                ->type('password', 'password')
                ->press('Login')
                ->assertPathIs('/dashboard');
        });
    }

    public function test_registration_form()
    {
        $this->browse(function (Browser $browser) {
            $browser->visit('/register')
                ->type('name', 'Test User')
                ->type('email', '[email protected]')
                ->type('password', 'password123')
                ->type('password_confirmation', 'password123')
                ->press('Register')
                ->assertPathIs('/dashboard');
        });
    }
}

Running Dusk Tests

php artisan dusk

Best Practices for Automated Testing in Laravel

• Write tests for critical paths: Focus on key functionalities first.
• Keep tests isolated: Avoid dependencies between tests.
• Use Factories: Simplify test data creation using Laravel factories.
• Continuous Integration: Integrate PHPUnit and Dusk tests in your CI/CD pipeline.

Conclusion

Using PHPUnit and Laravel Dusk together provides a complete testing strategy for Laravel applications. PHPUnit is ideal for unit and feature testing, while Dusk excels in end-to-end and browser interaction testing. Implement both to ensure your application remains stable and bug-free.