Set up the testing environment using Laravel’s built-in phpunit.xml and .env.testing with SQLite in memory. 2. Write feature tests to test full HTTP interactions, using helpers like $this->post() and assertRedirect(). 3. Write unit tests for isolated classes like services, ensuring they are fast and do not depend on the database unless necessary. 4. Use Laravel factories and RefreshDatabase trait to generate and manage test data. 5. Test API endpoints with the json() method and assert JSON responses, using Sanctum for authentication if needed. 6. Follow best practices such as clear test names, one assertion per test, and consider using Pest PHP for cleaner syntax. Starting with feature tests and leveraging Laravel’s testing tools significantly improves application reliability.
Writing tests in Laravel is straightforward thanks to built-in support for PHPUnit and Laravel-specific testing helpers. Laravel encourages both feature tests (testing how parts of your app work together) and unit tests (testing individual classes or functions in isolation). Here’s how to get started and write effective tests.
? 1. Set Up Your Testing Environment
Laravel comes with a phpunit.xml file and a tests directory out of the box.
-
Test files go in the
tests/Featureandtests/Unitdirectories. - Use SQLite for testing — it's fast and works in-memory.
- Update your
.env.testingfile (create it if it doesn't exist) to set the DB connection:
DB_CONNECTION=sqlite DB_DATABASE=:memory:
Run tests using:
php artisan test
Or with PHPUnit directly:
./vendor/bin/phpunit
? 2. Writing Feature Tests (Recommended for Most Cases)
Feature tests check full HTTP routes and user interactions.
Example: Test a User Can Login
// tests/Feature/LoginTest.php
use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
use Tests\TestCase;
class LoginTest extends TestCase
{
use RefreshDatabase;
public function test_user_can_login_with_correct_credentials()
{
$user = \App\Models\User::factory()->create([
'email' => 'test@example.com',
'password' => bcrypt('password'),
]);
$response = $this->post('/login', [
'email' => 'test@example.com',
'password' => 'password',
]);
$response->assertRedirect('/dashboard');
$this->assertAuthenticatedAs($user);
}
public function test_user_cannot_login_with_invalid_password()
{
$user = \App\Models\User::factory()->create([
'email' => 'test@example.com',
'password' => bcrypt('password'),
]);
$response = $this->post('/login', [
'email' => 'test@example.com',
'password' => 'wrong-password',
]);
$response->assertSessionHasErrors('email');
$this->assertGuest(); // User is not logged in
}
}Key Helpers:
$this->get('/url'),$this->post('/url', $data)assertStatus(200),assertRedirect(),assertSee()assertValid()/assertInvalid()for form validationassertDatabaseHas('users', ['email' => '...'])
? 3. Writing Unit Tests
Unit tests focus on single classes like Jobs, Services, or Helpers.
Example: Test a Custom Service Class
// app/Services/OrderService.php
class OrderService
{
public function getTotal($items)
{
return collect($items)->sum(fn($item) => $item['price'] * $item['quantity']);
}
}
// tests/Unit/OrderServiceTest.php
use App\Services\OrderService;
use Tests\TestCase;
class OrderServiceTest extends TestCase
{
public function test_calculates_total_correctly()
{
$service = new OrderService();
$items = [
['price' => 10, 'quantity' => 2],
['price' => 5, 'quantity' => 4],
];
$total = $service->getTotal($items);
$this->assertEquals(40, $total);
}
}?? Note: Unit tests don’t use
RefreshDatabaseunless needed. They should be fast and isolated.
? 4. Using Factories and Database Testing
Laravel factories help seed test data.
use App\Models\User;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
public function test_user_can_view_their_profile()
{
$user = User::factory()->create();
$response = $this->actingAs($user)->get('/profile');
$response->assertStatus(200);
$response->assertSee($user->name);
}Use RefreshDatabase to reset the DB after each test (migrations run once per test suite).
? 5. Testing API Endpoints
For JSON APIs, use json() and assert JSON responses.
public function test_api_returns_user_data()
{
$user = User::factory()->create();
$response = $this->actingAs($user, 'api')
->json('GET', '/api/user');
$response->assertStatus(200)
->assertJson(['id' => $user->id]);
}Or if using Laravel Sanctum:
use Laravel\Sanctum\Sanctum;
public function test_protected_api_route()
{
$user = User::factory()->create();
Sanctum::actingAs($user);
$this->get('/api/dashboard')->assertOk();
}? 6. Best Practices
- Use
RefreshDatabaseinstead ofDatabaseMigrationsorDatabaseTransactionsfor cleaner state. - Name tests clearly:
it_returns_403_for_unauthorized_usersinstead oftestSomething(). - Test one thing per test method.
- Use Pest PHP (optional): Laravel now supports Pest — a more elegant syntax:
// PestPHP style
it('has welcome page', function () {
$this->get('/')->assertStatus(200);
});Basically, just start with feature tests for your routes, use factories, and lean on Laravel’s helpers. It’s not complex — but makes a huge difference in long-term app reliability.
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