Integration Tests and Where to Use Them

Integration tests are a type of software testing that focuses on verifying the interactions and collaborations between different components, modules, or services within an application. Unlike unit tests, which isolate individual units of code and test them in isolation, integration tests examine how multiple units work together when integrated into a larger system. Here are some key characteristics and aspects of integration tests:

• Scope: Integration tests examine the integration points or interfaces between various components or services in the application. These components can be subsystems, modules, databases, APIs, or even external services.

• Realistic scenarios: Integration tests typically simulate more realistic scenarios than unit tests. They verify that data flows correctly between different parts of the system and that these interactions, including data exchange and communication, work as expected.

• Dependencies: Integration tests may involve real external dependencies, such as databases, web services, or message queues. Rather than being mocked or stubbed, these dependencies are often used in their actual configuration.

• Setup and teardown: Compared to unit tests, integration tests often require more complex setup and teardown procedures. The test data and the ...