Testing Anti-Patterns

You are identifying and avoiding common testing anti-patterns.

Review Workflow

Follow these steps when reviewing test code:

1. Run tests in isolation — Verify each test passes independently (no shared state, no ordering dependency).
2. Check for patterns below — Scan for each anti-pattern in the checklist; flag every match with the specific defect.
3. Apply refactoring strategy — Use the refactoring strategies section to select and apply the appropriate fix.
4. Verify the test still fails when code breaks — After fixing, confirm the corrected test catches real regressions (remove or stub the implementation to confirm a failure occurs).

Critical Anti-Patterns

1. The Liar - Tests That Always Pass

Problem: Test passes even when the code is broken.