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if got, want: A Simple Way to Write Better Go Tests from mtlynch.io RSS feed.
if got, want: A Simple Way to Write Better Go Tests
There’s an excellent Go testing pattern that too few people know. I can teach it to you in 30 seconds.
Instead of writing Go tests like this:
// The common, unrefined way.
username := GetUser()
if username != "dummyUser" {
t.Errorf("unexpected username: got %s, want: %s", username, "dummyUser")
}
Write your tests like this, beginning each assertion with if got, want :=:
// The underused, elegant way.
if got, want := GetUser(), "dummyUser"; got != want {
t.Errorf("username=%s, want=%s", got, want)
}
The if got, want :=: pattern works even better in table-driven tests. Here’s an example from my library for parsing social media handles: