pytest Python testing framework. Covers fixtures, parametrize, and mocking. Use for Python testing. USE WHEN: user mentions "pytest", "python test", "fixture", asks about "@pytest.fixture", "@pytest.mark.parametrize", "conftest.py", "pytest coverage", "python unit test" DO NOT USE FOR: JavaScript/TypeScript - use `vitest` or `jest`; Java - use `junit`; E2E web tests - use `playwright`; Load testing - use locust
Scanned 9/8/2026
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---
name: pytest
description: |
pytest Python testing framework. Covers fixtures, parametrize,
and mocking. Use for Python testing.
USE WHEN: user mentions "pytest", "python test", "fixture", asks about "@pytest.fixture", "@pytest.mark.parametrize", "conftest.py", "pytest coverage", "python unit test"
DO NOT USE FOR: JavaScript/TypeScript - use `vitest` or `jest`; Java - use `junit`; E2E web tests - use `playwright`; Load testing - use locust
allowed-tools: Read, Grep, Glob, Write, Edit
---
# pytest Core Knowledge
> **Deep Knowledge**: Use `mcp__documentation__fetch_docs` with technology: `pytest` for comprehensive documentation.
## When NOT to Use This Skill
- **JavaScript/TypeScript Testing** - Use `vitest` or `jest` for JS/TS projects
- **Java Testing** - Use `junit` for Java/Spring projects
- **E2E Web Testing** - Use `playwright` for browser automation
- **Load Testing** - Use locust or pytest-benchmark for performance
- **API Contract Testing** - Use dedicated tools like Pact
## Basic Tests
```python
def test_addition():
assert 1 + 1 == 2
def test_list_contains():
items = [1, 2, 3]
assert 2 in items
def test_raises_exception():
with pytest.raises(ValueError):
int("not a number")
class TestUserService:
def test_create_user(self):
user = create_user(name="John")
assert user.name == "John"
```
## Fixtures
```python
import pytest
@pytest.fixture
def user():
return User(name="John", email="john@example.com")
@pytest.fixture
def db():
connection = create_db_connection()
yield connection
connection.close()
def test_user_name(user):
assert user.name == "John"
def test_user_in_db(db, user):
db.save(user)
assert db.find(user.id) is not None
```
## Parametrize
```python
@pytest.mark.parametrize("input,expected", [
(1, 2),
(2, 4),
(3, 6),
])
def test_double(input, expected):
assert double(input) == expected
@pytest.mark.parametrize("email,valid", [
("test@example.com", True),
("invalid", False),
("", False),
])
def test_validate_email(email, valid):
assert validate_email(email) == valid
```
## Mocking
```python
from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
def test_with_mock():
mock_api = Mock()
mock_api.get_users.return_value = [{"name": "John"}]
result = process_users(mock_api)
mock_api.get_users.assert_called_once()
@patch('myapp.api.requests.get')
def test_api_call(mock_get):
mock_get.return_value.json.return_value = {"data": []}
result = fetch_data()
assert result == {"data": []}
```
## Async Tests
```python
import pytest
@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_async_function():
result = await async_fetch_data()
assert result is not None
# With pytest-asyncio 0.23+
@pytest.mark.asyncio(loop_scope="module")
async def test_shared_loop():
pass
```
## Property-Based Testing (Hypothesis)
```python
from hypothesis import given, strategies as st
@given(st.integers(), st.integers())
def test_addition_commutative(a: int, b: int):
assert a + b == b + a
@given(st.lists(st.integers()))
def test_sort_idempotent(items: list[int]):
assert sorted(sorted(items)) == sorted(items)
@given(st.text(min_size=1))
def test_string_nonempty(s: str):
assert len(s) >= 1
# Custom strategies
@given(st.builds(User, name=st.text(min_size=1), age=st.integers(0, 150)))
def test_user_creation(user: User):
assert user.name
assert 0 <= user.age <= 150
# Stateful testing
from hypothesis.stateful import RuleBasedStateMachine, rule
class SetMachine(RuleBasedStateMachine):
def __init__(self):
self.model = set()
self.impl = MySet()
@rule(value=st.integers())
def add(self, value):
self.model.add(value)
self.impl.add(value)
assert self.impl.contains(value)
```
## Configuration
```ini
# pytest.ini
[pytest]
testpaths = tests
python_files = test_*.py
python_functions = test_*
addopts = -v --cov=src --cov-report=html
```
## Production Readiness
### Test Organization
```python
# tests/conftest.py - Shared fixtures
import pytest
from sqlalchemy import create_engine
from sqlalchemy.orm import sessionmaker
@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
def engine():
"""Database engine for all tests."""
engine = create_engine("sqlite:///:memory:")
Base.metadata.create_all(engine)
yield engine
engine.dispose()
@pytest.fixture(scope="function")
def db_session(engine):
"""Fresh database session for each test."""
Session = sessionmaker(bind=engine)
session = Session()
yield session
session.rollback()
session.close()
@pytest.fixture
def client(db_session):
"""Test client with database session."""
app.dependency_overrides[get_db] = lambda: db_session
with TestClient(app) as client:
yield client
app.dependency_overrides.clear()
```
### Coverage Configuration
```ini
# pyproject.toml
[tool.pytest.ini_options]
testpaths = ["tests"]
python_files = ["test_*.py"]
addopts = "-v --cov=src --cov-report=term-missing --cov-report=xml --cov-fail-under=80"
markers = [
"slow: marks tests as slow",
"integration: integration tests",
]
[tool.coverage.run]
source = ["src"]
omit = ["*/tests/*", "*/__init__.py"]
[tool.coverage.report]
exclude_lines = [
"pragma: no cover",
"if TYPE_CHECKING:",
"raise NotImplementedError",
]
```
### CI Configuration
```yaml
# GitHub Actions
- name: Run tests
run: |
pytest --junitxml=test-results.xml --cov-report=xml
- name: Upload coverage
uses: codecov/codecov-action@v3
with:
files: ./coverage.xml
```
### Factory Pattern
```python
# tests/factories.py
import factory
from faker import Faker
fake = Faker()
class UserFactory(factory.Factory):
class Meta:
model = User
name = factory.LazyAttribute(lambda _: fake.name())
email = factory.LazyAttribute(lambda _: fake.email())
is_active = True
# Usage
def test_user_creation(db_session):
user = UserFactory()
db_session.add(user)
db_session.commit()
assert user.id is not None
```
### Monitoring Metrics
| Metric | Target |
|--------|--------|
| Line coverage | > 80% |
| Branch coverage | > 75% |
| Test execution time | < 60s |
| Flaky test rate | 0% |
### Checklist
- [ ] Fixtures in conftest.py
- [ ] Database isolation per test
- [ ] Coverage thresholds enforced
- [ ] CI/CD integration
- [ ] Factory pattern for test data
- [ ] Proper test markers
- [ ] Async tests with pytest-asyncio
- [ ] Mocking external services
- [ ] Parametrized edge cases
- [ ] Error paths tested
## Anti-Patterns
| Anti-Pattern | Why It's Bad | Solution |
|--------------|--------------|----------|
| Sharing mutable fixtures | Tests affect each other | Use function-scoped fixtures |
| Not using parametrize | Duplicate test code | Use @pytest.mark.parametrize |
| Testing implementation details | Brittle tests | Test public API behavior |
| Fixtures with side effects | Hard to debug | Keep fixtures pure, use yield for cleanup |
| No conftest.py organization | Scattered fixtures | Centralize in conftest.py |
| Ignoring warnings | Hidden issues | Treat warnings as errors in CI |
| Not mocking external services | Slow, flaky tests | Mock HTTP, database, file system |
## Quick Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---------|--------------|----------|
| "fixture not found" | Fixture not in scope | Move to conftest.py or same file |
| Test hangs | Missing await or infinite loop | Check async operations, add timeout |
| "Database is locked" | Shared DB connection | Use function-scoped DB fixtures |
| Flaky test | Shared state or timing | Isolate setup, check for race conditions |
| Import error | PYTHONPATH not set | Add src to path or use pytest.ini |
| Coverage not accurate | Missing source paths | Configure [tool.coverage.run] in pyproject.toml |
## Hypothesis Configuration
```toml
# pyproject.toml
[tool.hypothesis]
deadline = 500 # ms
max_examples = 100
database = ".hypothesis"
[tool.pytest.ini_options]
addopts = "--hypothesis-show-statistics"
```
## Reference Documentation
- [Fixtures](quick-ref/fixtures.md)
- [Mocking](quick-ref/mocking.md)
**Official docs:**
- pytest: https://docs.pytest.org/
- hypothesis: https://hypothesis.readthedocs.io/
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