10 Best Java Testing Framework of 2024

Releasing software without testing is a recipe for disaster. However, if you think that testing is a cumbersome process there are tools out there for aid. When it comes to Java applications, Java testing frameworks can help you to test your JAVA/J2EE applications with ease.

If you ask us, relying on such tools is better than no testing. And also, being accustomed to such tools can be beneficial if you are a full-stack developer or a tester.

It’s not just about following SDLC practices such as TDD or BDD, knowing how to operate such tools can help you at a basic level and also in automating the unit tests.

Here are some of the advantages of using Java testing frameworks

• Time used to develop robust java based apps can be reduced to a great deal
• They can unravel security issues very easily
• ‘Since the frameworks are used by millions the community support these frameworks have is great.
• They are very cost-effective

Let’s have a look at some of the most prominent Java testing frameworks.

1) JUnit

Junit can be termed as the most famous java-based testing tool in existence.

Precisely JUnit is

JUnit 5 = JUnit Platform + JUnit Jupiter + JUnit Vintage

• JUnit platform serves as the foundation of launching testing frameworks
• It also helps in developing a test framework that can define the TestEngine API.
• JUnit Jupiter is a combination of programming and extension models that will provide a Test Engine for running Jupiter based tests
• JUnit Vintage helps in backward compatibility

2) TestNG

TestNG is designed to cover functional, unit, integration, end-to-end, etc. and the cherry on the topping is that it’s inspired by Junit and NUnit. Even though TestNG is inspired by JUnit, both tools have a lot of differences.

Major features of the tool include

• Annotation support
• xml file can be used to create test suites based on test methods, classes, test groups, and packages
• TestNG can be used to execute the dependent test method
• TestNG can be used to group test methods
• Using testng@Parameters annotation you can pass the arguments as parameters
• By default, you get XML and HTML reports in the tool. You can also add your custom reports
• TestNG has an open API that’s available for all that helps users to create your own custom extensions

3) Mockito

Mockito is very simple to use because of one reason. it lets you create simple tests using just an API.

What makes the tool prominent is that the renowned Stackoverflow community has unanimously voted Mockito as the best when it comes to mocking frameworks for JAVA.

Features of Mockito includes,

• For those who are using Mockito-inline, the tool has an added new feature that will enable Kotlin and PowerMock users to add Mockito-inline to their test classes to avoid memory leakage
• Offers better API integration for advanced frameworks. The new API is meant for test tools and other mocking frameworks
• Offers great documentation
• Allows the usage of annotations so that lines can be reduced in test codes
• Distributed as a single JAR file available in the classpath so that test execution can happen easily

Even though we consider these features as the best, there are so many.

4) JBehave

Jbehave is very useful for Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) methodology.

why?

Here are the features of JBehave

• Helps in JAVA implementation
• Helps in running user stories that are text-based and it can be written in JBehave syntax or in Gherkin syntax.
• User stories can be classified as URL-based resources and classpath resources and can be executed concurrently
• Documentation of user stories through generic user-defined meta information
• Steps class specifications and Annotation-based configuration
• Used along with Selenium
• Dependency injection
• Helps in extensive story reporting
• Helps in auto generation of pending steps

5) Selenium

Selenium is a boon when it comes to performing test automation. This remarkable tool can be used to control and manage any kind of browser in existence. Selenium can also be used to test applications based on platforms such as Windows, Android, iOS, Mac, Solaris, Linux, etc.

When it comes to Java-based applications, Selenium can be integrated with Java testing frameworks such as TestNG, JUnit, etc.

Features of selenium include,

• Selenium has a native web browser that can be run locally or using a Selenium server.
• Selenium IDE helps in running end-to-end tests
• Since Selenium has a rich IDE, better debugging is one of the perks
• Helps in cross-browser execution
• Selenium IDE records multiple locators for each element
• With the help of the run command, you can use one test case inside another
• Helps in the control flow of the structure
• IDE of Selenium can be enhanced through plugins or third-party integrations
• Selenium also has a grid that helps in running tests across multiple machines

6) Serenity

Serenity is a favorite tool for those who follow BDD. The open-source library of Serenity helps in live documentation during tests.

Serenity is a boon when it comes to automated acceptance tests and regression tests.

Here are other major features of the tool.

• Helps in REST API testing with Rest Assured
• Helps in creating tests that are easy to read even by the business end
• Can be used in automated web testing using selenium
• Helps a great deal reporting acceptance criteria
• Helps in writing superior quality automated test cases and scenarios

7) HTTPUnit

Automation helps a great deal when it comes to automating unit tests. Features of the famous Java testing framework includes

• HTML form submissions, HTTP basic access authentication, JAVA script, etc.
• A functional testing tool that’s based on JUnit
• Helps in emulating browser behavior such as Managing Cookies, redirection, JAVA validation, form submission, etc.

8) Spring Testing

Spring Testing is an integral part of unit tests nowadays as the tools help in testing without the involvement of web containers.

Other cardinal features of the tool include,

• Creates dependency injection that enables the code to be container-independent.
• With the help of the new operator, you can use mock objects to test code in isolation.
• Helps in layering and componentization of code base
• Contains set of Servlet API mock objects
• Spring MVC Test framework builds on the mock Servlet API objects helps in creating an integration testing framework for Spring MVC
• Contains a collection of reflection-based utility methods that can be used to change the value of constants while testing
• Supports annotations
• Can be used with JUnit, TestNG, and many other Java testing frameworks

9) Guage

Guage is a reliable browser automation tool for JavaScript tests. The tests are in markdown which makes maintaining tests and writing an easy process in Guage. Other significant perks of the tool include reuse specification and refactoring features to reduce code duplication.

Here are the major features of the tool.

• Guage supports multiple languages, automation drivers, and CI/CD tools
• Guage has robust plug-in architecture because of robust drivers, data sources, IDEs, etc.
• Parallelization of tests in a CI/CD pipeline is very easy using Guage.
• One of the best tools for data-driven testing
• Supports VS code
• The tool supports markdown syntax
• Helps in focusing the test flow of the application

10) PowerMock

PowerMock helps other mocking tools with the help of its remarkable abilities. PowerMock has a custom bytecode manipulation and classloader that will help the tool to mock static methods, final classes, constructors, and there are many more features.

Here are some of the major features of the tool

• Since PowerMock has a class loader, no change is required on the IDE or continuous integration servers
• Since developers often find it easy to use mock frameworks, they can easily use the tool
• With the help of annotations, APIs can be enhanced in PowerMock

Conclusion

Thank you for reading this post. Hope you got to know a bit about some of the most prominent Java testing frameworks. Pick one based on your requirement and start testing.

If you think that using these tools, actually implementing these tools into an existing pipeline is a daunting task, we could help you with that. Please talk to us for further discussion.