Skip to main content
Version: v1.1

📓 3.0.0.36 Testing A Private Field through its Public Property and Organizing Tests with Arrange, Act, Assert

In this lesson, we'll begin working on the next simplest behavior our Triangle logic should have: three sides. Since the Triangle logic we create now will mirror exactly the Triangle logic we created at the end of the last pre-work section, we'll test for the following:

  • Testing the private field _side1 through its public property Side1.
  • Testing the auto-implemented public property Side2.
  • Testing the private field _side3 through its getter and setter methods.

We'll tackle each of the above behaviors in multiple lessons. This lesson will focus on two main topics:

  • Using the RGR workflow to test and create the private field _side1 through its public property Side1.
  • Using an organizational trick within our tests called "Arrange, Act, Assert".

Reference for the "Red, Green, Refactor" (RGR) Workflow​

For reference, here's the "Red, Green, Refactor" (RGR) workflow we follow with TDD:

  1. Identify the simplest possible behavior the program must exhibit.
  2. Write a coded test for this behavior.
  3. Before coding, confirm the test fails.
  4. Implement the behavior with the least amount of code possible.
  5. Run the automated test to confirm it passes. If it doesn't, revisit step 4.
  6. Confirm all previous tests still pass. If it doesn't, revisit step 4.
  7. Check if code can be refactored. If so, refactor and repeat step 6.
  8. Commit your passing code.
  9. Repeat this process with the next simplest behavior.

Testing the Private Field _side1 through its Public Property Side1​

1. Identify the simplest possible behavior the program must exhibit.​

The next behavior we want to implement in our Triangle class is for triangle objects to save three values to represent the three sides of a triangle. This behavior can actually be broken into three: we can consider implementing one side as one behavior.

However, each side of the triangle can further be broken down into two behaviors: implementing a get action and a set action. We distinguish between the set and get behavior because they are different, and including a set behavior is not required.

So the next simplest behavior we'll tackle is creating a get action for the first side of a triangle. In terms of code, we'll create a private field called _side1, which we'll access through the get action of a public property called Side1.

2. Write a coded test for this behavior.​

Here's the test we'll write, which we'll add just below the test for the constructor:

ShapeTracker.Solution/ShapeTracker.Tests/ModelTests/TriangleTests.cs
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
using ShapeTracker.Models;

namespace ShapeTracker.Tests
{
  [TestClass]
  public class TriangleTests
  {

    [TestMethod]
    public void TriangleConstructor_CreatesInstanceOfTriangle_Triangle()
    {
      Triangle newTriangle = new Triangle();
      Assert.AreEqual(typeof(Triangle), newTriangle.GetType());
    }

    [TestMethod]
    public void GetSide1_ReturnsSide1_Int()
    {
      int length1 = 3;
      Triangle newTriangle = new Triangle(length1);
      int result = newTriangle.Side1;
      Assert.AreEqual(length1, result);
    }

  }
}

We've created a new test method called GetSide1_ReturnsSide1_Int. Getting the value of a property on an Triangle may seem trivial. However, in order to get this test to pass, we'll need to create the public property, the private field, and also update our constructor. It makes sense to test our property and getter method so we know it's working properly, especially if we utilize custom get logic.

Within the test method we do the following:

  1. Create a new int called length1.

  2. Create a new Triangle object, passing in the length1 value.

  3. Record the result of retrieving the Side1 property of newTriangle.

  4. Confirm the description retrieved from the Triangle object matches the length1 string provided to the constructor.

Arrange, Act, Assert​

This test is more complex than our previous tests. Thankfully, there's an easy organizational trick that helps demystify this process and keep our tests clean. It's called "Arrange, Act, Assert". With this organizational method, we break our tests down into three stages:

  1. Arrange: We gather, declare and create all necessary components for the test. In the test above, we create length1 and newTriangle.

  2. Act: We invoke the functionality we're testing, often by calling a method or retrieving a property. In the test above, we call newTriangle.Side1;.

  3. Assert: We confirm the functionality works as anticipated by comparing its actual output with the anticipated output. This is when we call Assert.AreEqual().

Let's take one more look at our test. This time, we add comments to show how we use "Arrange, Act, Assert."

ShapeTracker.Solution/ShapeTracker.Tests/ModelTests/TriangleTests.cs
...

    [TestMethod]
    public void GetSide1_ReturnsSide1_Int()
    {
      // Arrange
      int length1 = 3;
      Triangle newTriangle = new Triangle(length1);
      // Act
      int result = newTriangle.Side1;
      // Assert
      Assert.AreEqual(length1, result);
    }

...

We recommend following this same organizational process in your own tests throughout the course.

3. Before coding, confirm the test fails.​

If we run $ dotnet test in the ShapeTracker.Tests directory, we'll see errors:

C:\Users\staff\Desktop\ShapeTracker.Solution\ShapeTracker.Tests\ModelTests\TriangleTests.cs(21,34): error CS1729: 'Triangle' does not contain a constructor that takes 1 arguments [C:\Users\staff\Desktop\ShapeTracker.Solution\ShapeTracker.Tests\ShapeTracker.Tests.csproj] C:\Users\staff\Desktop\ShapeTracker.Solution\ShapeTracker.Tests\ModelTests\TriangleTests.cs(23,32): error CS1061: 'Triangle' does not contain a definition for 'Side1' and no accessible extension method 'Side1' accepting a first argument of type 'Triangle' could be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?) [C:\Users\staff\Desktop\ShapeTracker.Solution\ShapeTracker.Tests\ShapeTracker.Tests.csproj]

This isn't actually a test failure message — it's a compiler error because the Triangle class doesn't have a constructor with a Side1 property. As a result, our test won't even run. However, for C# this compiler error is enough of a confirmation that our test does not have any false positives, so we can move onto the next step within the RGR workflow.

4. Implement the behavior with the least amount of code possible.​

Let's add just enough code to get beyond the compiler error. Let's update our code in the following ways:

  • Create a private field called _side1.
  • Create a public property called Side1 with a get action defined.
  • Add length1 as a parameter to our constructor and have it assigned as the value of our Side1 property.
ShapeTracker/Models/Triangle.cs
namespace ShapeTracker.Models
{
  public class Triangle
  {
    private int _side1;
    public int Side1
    {
      get { return _side1; }
    }

    public Triangle(int length1)
    {
      _side1 = length1;
    }
  }
}

5. Run the automated test to confirm it passes. If it doesn't, revisit step 4.​

We're now ready to see if the code we implemented passes our new test.

When we run dotnet test again, we get another compiler error:

C:\Users\staff\Desktop\ShapeTracker.Solution\ShapeTracker.Tests\ModelTests\TriangleTests.cs(12,34): error CS7036: There is no argument given that corresponds to the required formal parameter 'length1' of 'Triangle.Triangle(int)' [C:\Users\staff\Desktop\ShapeTracker.Solution\ShapeTracker.Tests\ShapeTracker.Tests.csproj]

If we read the compiler error, we can see there's an issue on line 12 of TriangleTests.cs. Line 12 is when we call the Triangle constructor in our first test: Triangle newTriangle = new Triangle();. Our Triangle constructor now expects an argument that corresponds to the length1 parameter. We need to revisit step 4 and implement more code to get our test to pass.

(Again) 4. Implement the behavior with the least amount of code possible.​

Here's how we'll update the first test in TriangleTests.cs:

ShapeTracker.Solution/ShapeTracker.Tests/ModelTests/TriangleTests.cs
...

    [TestMethod]
    public void TriangleConstructor_CreatesInstanceOfTriangle_Triangle()
    {
      Triangle newTriangle = new Triangle(2); // Updated!
      Assert.AreEqual(typeof(Triangle), newTriangle.GetType());
    }

...

5. Confirm the Test Passes, and 6. Confirm all previous tests still pass. If they don't, revisit step 4.​

We can run dotnet test again and confirm all our tests are passing now.

Passed!  - Failed:     0, Passed:     2, Skipped:     0, Total:     2, Duration: 67 ms - ShapeTracker.Tests.dll (net6.0)

When we're following "Red, Green, Refactor" we should be identifying behaviors that remain true for the life of the program. Ideally, we should rarely have to go back and edit previous tests. In fact, editing tests to make them pass can be dangerous. We don't want to risk creating falsely-passing tests. However, as applications grow in size, it's occasionally required to edit previous tests. In particular a class's constructor is likely to change a lot until the class logic is done.

7. Check if code can be refactored. If so, refactor and repeat step 6.​

Our code cannot be refactored at this time, since it is still very basic.

8. Commit your passing code.​

Time to commit our passing code. The commit message this time will be "add Side1 get functionality + passing test".

Remember that you can change the wording of your last commit with the command git commit --amend.

We're now ready for step 9: Repeat this process with the next simplest behavior.

1. Identify the simplest possible behavior the program must exhibit.​

We want to be able to get and set the value of our _side1 private field, so the next simplest behavior we want to test for is adding a set action to our public Side1 property.

2. Write a coded test for this behavior.​

Here's our new test. Note that we don't have to include the comments // Arrange, // Act, // Assert:

ShapeTracker.Solution/ShapeTracker.Tests/ModelTests/TriangleTests.cs
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
using ShapeTracker.Models;

namespace ShapeTracker.Tests
{
  [TestClass]
  public class TriangleTests
  {

    ... // previous 2 tests omitted for brevity.

    [TestMethod]
    public void SetSide1_SetsValueOfSide1_Void()
    {
      // Arrange
      Triangle newTriangle = new Triangle(3);
      int newLength1 = 44;
      // Act
      newTriangle.Side1 = newLength1;
      // Assert
      Assert.AreEqual(newLength1, newTriangle.Side1);
    }

  }
}

3. Before coding, confirm the test fails.​

Let's confirm that our test fails by running dotnet test within the ShapeTracker.Tests directory:

C:\Users\staff\Desktop\ShapeTracker.Solution\ShapeTracker.Tests\ModelTests\TriangleTests.cs(35,7): error CS0200: Property or indexer 'Triangle.Side1' cannot be assigned to -- it is read only [C:\Users\staff\Desktop\ShapeTracker.Solution\ShapeTracker.Tests\ShapeTracker.Tests.csproj]

We get a compiler error, which counts as a test failure. The error clearly lets us know that we cannot assign a value to the Side1 property.

4. Implement the behavior with the least amount of code possible.​

We'll add a set action to our public Side1 property, which will handle assigning the private field _side1 a value.

ShapeTracker/Models/Triangle.cs
namespace ShapeTracker.Models
{
  public class Triangle
  {
    private int _side1;
    public int Side1
    {
      get { return _side1; }
      set { _side1 = value; }
    }

    public Triangle(int length1)
    {
      _side1 = length1;
    }
  }
}

Steps 5. and 6. Confirm the new test and all previous tests are still passing.​

With the previous update, we can confirm that all of our tests are now passing: 

Passed!  - Failed:     0, Passed:     3, Skipped:     0, Total:     2, Duration: 67 ms - ShapeTracker.Tests.dll (net6.0)

7. Check if code can be refactored. If so, refactor and repeat step 6.​

We're still in the early stages of development, so we won't see an opportunity for refactoring for a while.

8. Commit your passing code.​

Commit your passing code. We'll use the commit message "add passing test, code for Triangle.Side1 SET".

9. Repeat this process with the next simplest behavior.​

We've completed our get and set behavior for the Side1 property and private _side1 field. We've also updated the constructor accordingly. In the next lesson, we'll move on to the next simplest behavior.