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In computer programming, a unit test is a method of testing the correctness of a particular module of source code.
The idea is to write test cases for every non-trivial function or method in the module so that each test case is separate from the others if possible. The goal of unit testing is to isolate each part of the program and show that the individual parts are correct. It provides a written contract that the piece must satisfy. This isolated testing provides two main benefits:
1. Encourages change
Unit testing allows the programmer to refactor code at a later date, and make sure the module still works correctly (regression testing). This provides the benefit of encouraging programmers to make changes to the code since it is easy for the programmer to check if the piece is still working properly.
2. Simplifies Integration
Unit testing helps eliminate uncertainty in the pieces themselves and can be used in a bottom-up testing style approach. By testing the parts of a program first and then testing the sum of its parts will make integration testing easier.
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