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Christian Dave Montalban
Christian Dave Montalban

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Integration vs Unit Testing. ELI5

Unit testing and integration testing are two different types of software testing that are used to evaluate the quality and reliability of a computer program.

Unit testing is a type of testing that focuses on individual units or components of a program, and it is used to verify that each unit or component is working correctly and as expected. Unit tests are typically small and focused, and they are designed to test a specific piece of functionality or behavior of a program.

Integration testing, on the other hand, is a type of testing that focuses on the integration of multiple units or components of a program, and it is used to verify that the different units or components are working together correctly and as expected. Integration tests are typically larger and more complex than unit tests, and they are designed to test the interactions and dependencies between different units or components of a program.

To understand the difference between unit testing and integration testing, imagine you are building a toy house with your friends.

Unit testing:

You might test the individual parts of the toy house, such as the walls, the roof, and the doors, to make sure that they are built correctly and fit together properly.
You might test the windows and doors of the toy house, to make sure that they open and close smoothly and securely.
You might test the different colors of paint that you use to decorate the toy house, to make sure that they are applied evenly and do not run or fade.
Integration testing:

You might test the toy house as a whole, to make sure that all the parts are put together correctly and that the toy house is stable and safe to play with.
You might test the toy house with other toys, such as furniture and dolls, to make sure that they fit inside the toy house and can be used safely and comfortably.
You might test the toy house in different environments, such as outdoors and indoors, to make sure that it performs well and is suitable for different conditions.
Overall, unit testing and integration testing are two different types of software testing that are used to evaluate the quality and reliability of a program. Unit testing focuses on individual units or components of a program, while integration testing focuses on the interactions and dependencies between different units or components.

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