assert
Assertions in Node.js
Imagine you're building a Lego tower. You want to make sure each block fits perfectly. Assert functions are like little inspectors that check if your building is as expected.
Basic Assertions
assert.ok(value)
Checks if value
is truthy (not null
, undefined
, 0
, ''
, false
).
Example:
assert.equal(actual, expected)
Checks if actual
and expected
are equal.
Example:
assert.notEqual(actual, expected)
Checks if actual
and expected
are not equal.
Example:
More Complex Assertions
assert.deepEqual(actual, expected)
Checks if actual
and expected
are deeply equal, meaning they have the same value and structure.
Example:
assert.throws(block, error)
Checks if block
throws an error of type error
.
Example:
Applications in Real World
Asserts are used extensively in unit testing, where they verify if functions or modules behave as expected.
Imagine a function that calculates the area of a rectangle. Using asserts, you can test if the area is calculated correctly for different input values.
Strict Assertion Mode
Imagine you're working on a toy assembly line in a toy factory. Your job is to check if the toys are made correctly.
In Regular Mode (non-strict):
You're a bit lenient and don't pay much attention to the details.
If a toy has a slight difference in color or shape, you don't worry about it.
You're okay with the toys being "pretty close" to what they're supposed to be.
In Strict Mode:
You're a perfectionist who wants every toy to be exactly as designed.
You check every tiny detail, and even the smallest difference is unacceptable.
You make sure that the toys are "100% identical" to the blueprints.
In Node.js, assert
helps you check if certain conditions are true. By default, it uses the regular mode. To activate the strict mode, you use assert.strict
.
Example:
Regular Mode:
Strict Mode:
Error Messages:
In regular mode, error messages for objects just show the objects, often cut off. In strict mode, it shows a diff to highlight the differences.
Example:
Regular Mode:
Strict Mode:
Real-World Applications:
Strict assertion mode is useful for ensuring the highest level of accuracy in your code. It can be used in:
Validating data entered by users (e.g., in a registration form)
Checking API responses for consistency and correctness
Testing the behavior of third-party modules and libraries
Debugging code by identifying subtle differences that might be causing issues
Legacy Assertion Mode
Legacy assertion mode is an older way of writing assertions in Node.js. It uses the ==
operator to compare values for equality. The ==
operator compares values by value and type, so it can produce surprising results.
Functions in Legacy Assertion Mode
Legacy assertion mode affects the following functions in the assert
module:
assert.deepEqual()
assert.equal()
assert.notDeepEqual()
assert.notEqual()
Using Legacy Assertion Mode
To use legacy assertion mode, you can import the assert
module using either CommonJS or ES modules:
Surprising Results in Legacy Assertion Mode
Legacy assertion mode can lead to unexpected results, especially when using assert.deepEqual()
. For example:
This is because the ==
operator compares values by value and type, and in this case, both /a/gi
and new Date()
are objects with the same value ("[object RegExp]"
).
Potential Applications
Legacy assertion mode is still used in some legacy codebases. However, it is not recommended to use it in new code. Instead, you should use the modern assertion mode, which uses the stricter ===
operator.
Real-World Examples
Here is an example of how to write an assertion in legacy assertion mode:
Here is an example of how to write the same assertion in modern assertion mode:
Recommendations
It is recommended to use the modern assertion mode whenever possible. Legacy assertion mode is deprecated and may be removed in a future version of Node.js.
What is an Assertion?
In programming, an assertion is a statement that you expect to be true at a specific point in your code. For example, you might have a function that calculates the area of a triangle, and you expect it to always return a positive number. You can write an assertion to check that this is the case.
What is an AssertionError?
An AssertionError is an error that is thrown when an assertion fails. This means that the condition you specified in your assertion was not met. For example, if you have a function that calculates the area of a triangle, and you expect it to always return a positive number, but it actually returns a negative number, then an AssertionError will be thrown.
How to Throw an AssertionError
You can throw an AssertionError using the assert
module. The assert
module provides a number of different functions for checking different conditions. If any of these conditions fail, an AssertionError will be thrown.
For example, to check that a value is not null, you can use the assert.ok()
function:
If value
is null, then an AssertionError will be thrown.
How to Handle Assertions
You can handle assertions by catching the AssertionError error. For example:
Real-World Applications
Assertions can be used in a variety of real-world applications, such as:
Testing: You can use assertions to test the correctness of your code. For example, you can write assertions to check that your functions return the correct values, or that your objects have the correct properties.
Debugging: You can use assertions to help you debug your code. For example, you can add assertions to key points in your code to help you identify where errors are occurring.
Documentation: You can use assertions to document the expected behavior of your code. This can help other developers to understand how your code is supposed to work.
Conclusion
Assertions are a powerful tool for ensuring the correctness and reliability of your code. By using assertions, you can catch errors early and prevent them from causing problems in your application.
Introduction to assert.AssertionError
In Node.js, an AssertionError
is a special type of error that is thrown when an assertion fails. An assertion is a statement that is expected to be true in a given situation. If the assertion is not true, the AssertionError
is thrown.
Creating an AssertionError
You can create an AssertionError
directly using the new
keyword. The following example creates an AssertionError
with a custom message:
You can also pass additional options to the AssertionError
constructor, such as the actual
and expected
values of the assertion. These values will be included in the error message.
Properties of an AssertionError
An AssertionError
has the following properties:
message
: The error message.name
: The error name, which is always'AssertionError'
.actual
: The actual value of the assertion.expected
: The expected value of the assertion.operator
: The operator that was used in the assertion, such as'==='
or'>='
.generatedMessage
: A boolean value that indicates whether the error message was generated automatically or not.code
: The error code, which is always'ERR_ASSERTION'
.
Throwing an AssertionError
You can throw an AssertionError
using the assert
module. The assert
module provides a number of methods that can be used to perform assertions. If any of these methods fail, an AssertionError
is thrown.
For example, the following code throws an AssertionError
if the value of x
is not equal to 10:
Handling an AssertionError
When an AssertionError
is thrown, you can handle it like any other error. You can catch the error using a try/catch
block, or you can let it propagate up the call stack.
For example, the following code catches the AssertionError
and logs the error message:
Real-World Applications
AssertionErrors
are commonly used in unit testing to verify that the expected behavior of a function or method is met. For example, the following test checks that the add
function correctly adds two numbers:
If the add
function does not return the expected value, the test will fail and the AssertionError
will be thrown.
Conclusion
AssertionErrors
are a useful tool for verifying the expected behavior of your code. They can help you to identify and fix errors early on, before they can cause problems in your production code.
Class: assert.CallTracker
This class is used to track the calls to a function. It can be used to verify that a function was called the expected number of times, with the expected arguments, and in the expected order.
Usage:
Create a new CallTracker
object and pass it the function you want to track:
Now, every time you call myFunction
, the call will be tracked by the callTracker
object.
Methods:
getCalls(): Returns an array of all the calls that have been made to the function. Each call is represented by an object with the following properties:
args
: The arguments that were passed to the function.thisValue
: The value ofthis
that was used when the function was called.returnValue
: The return value of the function.
assertCalled(n, ...args): Asserts that the function was called exactly
n
times with the specified arguments.assertCalledWith(call): Asserts that the function was called at least once with the specified arguments.
assertCalledWithNew(call): Asserts that the function was called at least once with the specified constructor arguments.
assertCalledInOrder(calls): Asserts that the function was called in the specified order with the specified arguments.
Example:
The following example shows how to use the CallTracker
class to track the calls to a function:
Real-World Applications:
The CallTracker
class can be used in a variety of real-world applications, such as:
Testing: You can use the
CallTracker
class to verify that a function was called the expected number of times, with the expected arguments, and in the expected order.Debugging: You can use the
CallTracker
class to help debug your code by tracking the calls to a function and seeing what arguments were passed and what the return value was.Profiling: You can use the
CallTracker
class to profile your code and see how often a function is called and how long it takes to execute.
CallTracker in Assert module
Introduction
In JavaScript testing, sometimes you need to verify that a function has been called a specific number of times. The CallTracker
class in the assert
module helps you do just that.
Creating a CallTracker
To start tracking function calls, create a CallTracker
object:
Tracking Function Calls
Use the calls()
method to track a function:
This line tells the tracker to expect the func
function to be called exactly 1 time.
Verifying Function Calls
After tracking all the function calls, call verify()
to check if the expected number of calls were made:
If all the tracked functions were called the expected number of times, verify()
will be successful. Otherwise, it will throw an error.
Real-World Example
Let's test a simple function that increments a counter:
We want to make sure that this function is called twice in our test:
If the incrementCounter
function is called exactly twice, the test will pass without throwing an error.
Applications
CallTracker
is useful in various scenarios:
Verifying that event listeners are attached or removed as expected.
Checking if database queries are executed the desired number of times.
Ensuring that API requests are made within a specific limit.
Testing the execution flow of asynchronous functions.
tracker.calls([fn][, exact])
tracker.calls([fn][, exact])
Simplified Explanation
The tracker.calls
function helps you track how many times a function has been called.
You give it a function, and it returns a new function that you should use instead of the original function. The new function will keep track of how many times it's been called.
When you call the new function, the tracker will count how many times it's been called. You can then use the tracker.verify()
function to check that the function has been called the exact number of times you expected.
Detailed Explanation
The tracker.calls
function takes two arguments:
fn
: This is the function you want to track.exact
: This is the optional number of times you expect the function to be called. If you don't provide this number, the default is 1.
The tracker.calls
function returns a new function that wraps the original function. This new function will call the original function, but it will also keep track of how many times it's been called.
You can then use the tracker.verify()
function to check that the function has been called the exact number of times you expected. If the function has not been called the expected number of times, tracker.verify()
will throw an error.
Code Examples
Here is an example of how to use the tracker.calls
function:
In this example, we create a call tracker and then use the tracker.calls
function to get a wrapped function that tracks how many times it's been called. We then call the wrapped function several times and finally use the tracker.verify()
function to check that the function has been called the expected number of times.
Real-World Applications
The tracker.calls
function can be used in a variety of real-world applications, such as:
Testing: You can use the
tracker.calls
function to test that a function has been called the expected number of times.Debugging: You can use the
tracker.calls
function to debug code and find out why a function is not being called as expected.Performance tuning: You can use the
tracker.calls
function to identify performance bottlenecks by tracking how many times a function is being called.
tracker.getCalls(fn)
tracker.getCalls(fn)
Summary: Gets all the calls made to a tracked function.
Parameters:
fn
: The tracked function for which to get the calls.
Returns: An array of objects, each representing a single call to the tracked function. Each object has the following properties:
thisArg
: The value ofthis
when the function was called.arguments
: An array of arguments passed to the function.
Example:
Simplified Explanation:
The
assert.CallTracker
class allows you to track calls to a function.tracker.calls(func)
returns a function that tracks calls tofunc
.tracker.getCalls(callsfunc)
returns an array of all the calls made to the tracked function.Each call object contains information about the function call, such as the value of
this
and the arguments passed to the function.
Real-World Applications:
Testing: To verify that a function was called with specific arguments and in a specific context.
Debugging: To understand the flow of execution and identify any unexpected calls to a function.
Mocking: To create a mock function that tracks calls and returns predefined values.
tracker.report()
tracker.report()
Description
The tracker.report()
method of the assert
module returns an array of objects containing information about the wrapper functions returned by [tracker.calls()
][].
Syntax
Parameters
This method does not take any parameters.
Return Value
The return value is an array of objects containing the following information:
message
: A string containing a message about the expected and actual number of times the function was called.actual
: The actual number of times the function was called.expected
: The expected number of times the function was called.operator
: The name of the function that is wrapped.stack
: A stack trace of the function.
Example
The following example shows how to use the tracker.report()
method:
Potential Applications
The tracker.report()
method can be used to verify that a function was called the expected number of times. This can be useful for testing purposes or for debugging code.
Tracker.reset
The reset
method of the CallTracker
class in the assert
module resets the calls of the call tracker. If a tracked function is passed as an argument, the calls will be reset for it. If no arguments are passed, all tracked functions will be reset.
Here's a simplified explanation:
The CallTracker
class is used to track calls to a function. The reset
method resets the tracked calls. This can be useful if you want to start tracking calls from the beginning again.
Here's an example of how to use the reset
method:
In this example, we create a CallTracker
instance and track calls to the func
function. After calling func
once, we can see that the tracker has recorded the call using getCalls
. Then, we reset the calls using reset
and verify that the tracker is now empty using getCalls
.
Here are some potential applications of the reset
method:
Resetting the tracker after each test case to ensure that the calls are tracked separately.
Resetting the tracker when the tracked function is updated or replaced.
Resetting the tracker when the tracked function is no longer needed to be tracked.
tracker.verify()
tracker.verify()
Explanation
The verify()
method of the CallTracker class checks if all the functions passed to the calls()
method have been called the expected number of times. If a function has not been called the expected number of times, the verify()
method will throw an error.
Simplified Example
Here's a simplified example:
Code Implementation
Here's a complete code implementation:
Potential Applications
Potential applications of the verify()
method include:
Testing the expected behavior of asynchronous functions.
Verifying that a function was called the correct number of times in a unit test.
Ensuring that a function is not called more than a certain number of times.
assert(value[, message])
The assert(value[, message])
function in assert
module is an alias of [assert.ok()
][].
It checks if the value
is truthy. If it is not, an AssertionError
is thrown. The optional message
parameter can be used to provide a custom error message.
Examples:
Real World Applications:
Testing: The
assert
module can be used to write tests for your code. For example, you could useassert
to check that the output of a function is what you expect it to be.Validating Input: The
assert
module can be used to validate input to your functions. For example, you could useassert
to check that a function parameter is of the correct type.
Potential Code Implementations:
assert.deepEqual()
Usage:
Parameters:
actual
: The actual value.expected
: The expected value.message
: (Optional) A custom error message.
Description:
assert.deepEqual()
checks if two values are deeply equal.
Deep Equality means that the values have the same structure and all of their properties are deeply equal.
For example:
However, be careful when comparing objects with circular references:
This is because assert.deepEqual()
uses JavaScript's ==
operator, which does not handle circular references correctly.
Use assert.deepStrictEqual()
instead:
assert.deepStrictEqual()
is a stricter version of assert.deepEqual()
. It uses a recursive algorithm to compare values and handles circular references correctly.
Applications:
assert.deepEqual()
is useful for testing the expected output of a function. For example:
However, it's better practice to use assert.deepStrictEqual()
.
Deep Equality
What is Deep Equality?
Deep equality means checking if two objects have the same values for all of their properties, and if those properties are also deeply equal.
How does assert.deepEqual()
work?
assert.deepEqual()
compares two objects by:
Checking if their property values are equal.
If the values are objects, checking if those objects are also deeply equal.
How is it different from regular equality?
Regular equality (==) only checks if the two objects are the same object, or if their values are equal. It does not check properties.
Enumerability and Order
What is enumerability?
Enumerability means whether a property can be accessed using for...in
loops. By default, properties are enumerable.
What is object order?
The order of properties in an object is not guaranteed.
How does this affect assert.deepEqual()
?
assert.deepEqual()
only compares enumerable properties. It also doesn't care about the order of properties.
Types and Special Cases
Primitive values: Compared using the == operator. NaN
is considered equal to itself.
Objects: Type tags must match. Only enumerable "own" properties are compared.
Errors: Names and messages are always compared, even if not enumerable.
Object wrappers: Compared both as objects and unwrapped values.
Maps and Sets: Keys and items are compared unordered.
Circular references: Recursion stops when both sides differ or encounter a circular reference.
Prototypes: Not tested.
Examples
Real-World Applications
Testing: Ensuring that objects have the expected values and relationships.
Data manipulation: Verifying that data has been transformed or modified as intended.
Validation: Checking that user inputs or server responses meet specific criteria.
Serialization: Comparing objects before and after serialization to ensure data integrity.
assert.deepStrictEqual
Purpose: Check if two values are deeply equal, meaning that they have the same structure and values at all levels.
Parameters:
actual: The actual value being tested.
expected: The expected value being compared to.
message(optional): A custom error message to be included if the assertion fails.
How it Works:
Deep equality compares the actual and expected values recursively, checking each property and value at every level.
Example:
Applications:
Testing the equality of complex objects or arrays.
Verifying that a function's output matches the expected result.
Ensuring that data is consistent across different systems or processes.
Real-World Example:
Consider a function that calculates the total price of items in a shopping cart:
If the calculateTotalPrice
function is working correctly, this assertion will pass, indicating that the actual total calculated is equal to the expected total.
DeepStrictEqual
The assert.deepStrictEqual()
method in Node.js is used to compare two objects and ensure that they are strictly equal, meaning that they have the same value and the same type.
How does it work?
Primitive values (e.g., numbers, strings, booleans) are compared using the
Object.is()
method.Objects are compared based on their type tags (e.g.,
[object Object]
) and their [[Prototype]] chains.Enumerable "own" properties are considered during the comparison.
Error
objects are compared by their names and messages.Symbol
properties are also compared.Object wrappers (e.g.,
new Number(1)
) are compared both as objects and as their unwrapped values.Map
and**Set
** keys and items are compared unordered.WeakMap
andWeakSet
comparison does not rely on their values.RegExp
lastIndex, flags, and source are always compared.
Example:
Real-world application:
This method is useful for testing the equality of complex objects, such as database records or API responses. It ensures that the values and types match exactly.
Potential pitfalls:
Different type tags can cause unexpected results (e.g., comparing a
Date
object to afakeDate
object with the same [[Prototype]]).Unwrapped numbers and strings can be equal but not strictly equal (e.g.,
new Number(1)
andnew Number(2)
).Circular references can lead to infinite recursion and cause the comparison to fail.
Additional methods:
assert.deepEqual()
- Compares objects using a recursive algorithm that does not enforce strict equality.assert.notDeepStrictEqual()
- Checks that two objects are not strictly equal.assert.notDeepEqual()
- Checks that two objects are not recursively equal.
assert.doesNotMatch(string, regexp[, message])
assert.doesNotMatch(string, regexp[, message])
string
is the input string you want to testregexp
is the regular expression you want to check againstmessage
is an optional error message
This function checks if the string
does not match the regexp
. If it does, it throws an [AssertionError
][] with the message
you provided. Here's a simple example:
This will pass because the string "I will pass" does not match the regular expression /fail/. However, if we change the string to "I will fail":
This will fail and throw an [AssertionError
][] because the string "I will fail" does match the regular expression /fail/.
Real-world example
One common use case for assert.doesNotMatch
is to validate user input. For example, you could use it to make sure that a user's password does not contain any special characters:
This function will only allow passwords that contain letters or numbers. If a user tries to enter a password with a special character, the assert.doesNotMatch
will throw an [AssertionError
][] and the function will fail.
Potential applications
Here are some potential applications for assert.doesNotMatch
:
Validating user input
Checking for errors in your code
Testing the output of your functions
Writing unit tests for your applications
assert.doesNotReject(asyncFn[, error][, message])
assert.doesNotReject(asyncFn[, error][, message])
asyncFn
{Function|Promise}error
{RegExp|Function}message
{string}
Explanation:
assert.doesNotReject
is a function used to assert that a function or promise does not reject with an error.The
asyncFn
parameter is the asynchronous function or promise that you want to test.The
error
parameter is optional and can be used to specify the type of error that you expect the function or promise to not reject with. It can be aRegExp
object, aFunction
, or aClass
.The
message
parameter is also optional and can be used to provide a custom error message if the assertion fails.
How to use:
You can use
assert.doesNotReject
in the following way:
If the
asyncFn
does not reject with an error, the assertion will pass and your code will continue to execute.If the
asyncFn
rejects with an error, the assertion will fail and themessage
parameter will be displayed.
Example:
The following example shows how to use
assert.doesNotReject
to test an asynchronous function that returns a promise:
In this example, the
myAsyncFunction
does not reject with an error, so the assertion will pass.
Potential applications:
assert.doesNotReject
can be used in unit tests to assert that a function or promise does not reject with an error. This can be helpful for testing error handling code.assert.doesNotReject
can also be used in production code to handle errors gracefully. For example, you could useassert.doesNotReject
to handle errors that occur during asynchronous operations.
Improved/Simplified Code Snippet:
Real-World Implementation:
Consider an API endpoint that retrieves data from a database and sends a response to the client. You could use assert.doesNotReject
to ensure that the endpoint does not reject with an error, even if the database is unavailable or the data is corrupted. This helps to ensure that the endpoint remains responsive and available to clients, even in the event of errors.
In this example, the assert.doesNotReject
assertion will fail because the getData
function rejects with an error. This helps to identify potential issues with the endpoint's error handling and ensures that it remains responsive to clients even in the event of errors.
assert.doesNotThrow()
Simplified Explanation:
Imagine you have a function that you expect to run smoothly without causing any errors. With assert.doesNotThrow()
, you can check if that's the case.
Function Signature:
Parameters:
fn: The function you want to test.
error (optional): An error type, regular expression, or validation function that describes the type of error you don't expect the function to throw.
message (optional): A custom error message to append to the
AssertionError
if the function throws an error.
Example:
Real-World Applications:
Testing API responses: Verify that API calls don't fail with unexpected errors.
Ensuring database operations: Check that database queries and updates don't throw exceptions.
Validating user input: Confirm that user-provided data doesn't cause validation errors.
Tips:
Use
assert.doesNotThrow()
to test functions that you expect to succeed.If an error is thrown, specify the expected error type in the
error
parameter to get a more specific error message.Add a custom message in the
message
parameter to provide additional context if the assertion fails.
assert.equal()
The assert.equal()
function is used to test whether two values are equal.
Syntax
Parameters
actual
: The actual value.expected
: The expected value.message
(optional): A custom error message.
Return Value
The function does not return any value.
Example
Real-World Applications
Testing the output of a function.
Validating user input.
Comparing two objects or arrays.
Potential Applications
Unit testing
Data validation
Object comparison
Simplified Explanation
The assert.equal()
function checks if two values are equal. If they are equal, the function does nothing. If they are not equal, the function throws an error.
In very plain English, like explaining to a child
Imagine you have two boxes of candy. You want to check if they have the same number of candies. You can use the assert.equal()
function to do this. If the boxes have the same number of candies, the function will say "OK". If they don't have the same number of candies, the function will say "AssertionError".
assert.fail([message])
assert.fail([message])
In JavaScript, the assert
module provides a way to check if a condition is true. If the condition is false, the assert
module will throw an AssertionError
.
The assert.fail()
method is a way to manually throw an AssertionError
. This can be useful in cases where you want to check for a specific condition, and you want to throw an AssertionError
if that condition is not met.
For example, the following code uses the assert.fail()
method to check if a variable is equal to a specific value:
If the variable x
is not equal to 10, the assert.fail()
method will throw an AssertionError
with the message "The variable x
is not equal to 10.".
The assert.fail()
method can also be used to throw an AssertionError
without a message. For example:
This will throw an AssertionError
with the default message "Failed.".
The assert.fail()
method can be a useful tool for checking for specific conditions in your code. It can help you to ensure that your code is working as expected.
Here are some real-world examples of how the assert.fail()
method can be used:
In a unit test, you can use the
assert.fail()
method to check for specific conditions in your code. This can help you to ensure that your code is working as expected.In a production environment, you can use the
assert.fail()
method to check for specific conditions that could cause your code to fail. This can help you to prevent your code from crashing.
The assert.fail()
method is a powerful tool that can be used to check for specific conditions in your code. It can help you to ensure that your code is working as expected and prevent it from crashing.
assert.fail(actual, expected[, message[, operator[, stackStartFn]]])
assert.fail(actual, expected[, message[, operator[, stackStartFn]]])
Description
The assert.fail() method in Node.js is used to create an AssertionError
exception and throw it. This method is generally used for failing assertions in a way that provides a custom error message and stack trace.
Parameters
actual
: The actual value that failed the assertion.expected
: The expected value that the assertion failed against.message
: An optional custom error message. If not provided, a default message will be generated based on the values ofactual
andexpected
.operator
: An optional comparison operator to use in the error message. The default operator is'!='
.stackStartFn
: An optional function to use as the starting point for the stack trace. This function's stack frame and all frames above it will be removed from the stack trace.
Usage
To use the assert.fail() method, simply call it with the appropriate parameters. For example, the following code throws an AssertionError
exception with a custom error message:
This will throw the following error:
You can also use the assert.fail() method to set custom properties on the AssertionError
exception. For example, the following code sets the actual
and expected
properties on the exception:
This will throw the following error:
Real-World Applications
The assert.fail() method can be used in any situation where you need to create a custom AssertionError
exception. This can be useful for providing more detailed error messages or for customizing the stack trace.
For example, you could use the assert.fail() method to create an AssertionError
exception that includes the current filename and line number:
This would throw the following error:
Potential Applications
Testing: The assert.fail() method can be used to create custom error messages for failed assertions in unit tests.
Debugging: The assert.fail() method can be used to create custom error messages and stack traces for debugging purposes.
Error handling: The assert.fail() method can be used to create custom error messages and stack traces for error handling purposes.
What is assert.ifError()?
assert.ifError()
is a function in Node.js that checks if a value is not undefined
or null
. If the value is not undefined
or null
, assert.ifError()
throws the value as an error.
Why use assert.ifError()?
assert.ifError()
is useful when testing the error
argument in callbacks. This is because assert.ifError()
will include all frames from the error passed to it in the stack trace, including the frames for assert.ifError()
itself.
How to use assert.ifError()?
The syntax of assert.ifError()
is:
where:
value
is the value to check for an error
Example:
Real-world applications:
assert.ifError()
can be used to test the error
argument in callbacks to ensure that it is not undefined
or null
. This can be useful in debugging code and in writing tests.
Potential applications:
Testing the
error
argument in callbacksWriting tests
Debugging code
assert.match(string, regexp[, message])
assert.match(string, regexp[, message])
Overview
This function checks if a given string matches a regular expression.
Parameters
string
: The string to check.regexp
: The regular expression to match against.message
: An optional error message to display if the assertion fails.
Usage
To use this function, you first need to create a regular expression object. You can do this using the RegExp
constructor.
Once you have a regular expression object, you can use it to check if a string matches the pattern.
If the string matches the pattern, the function will return without doing anything. If the string does not match the pattern, the function will throw an AssertionError
.
You can also provide a custom error message to be displayed if the assertion fails.
Real-World Example
This function can be used to validate user input. For example, you could use it to check if a user has entered a valid email address.
If the user enters a valid email address, the function will return without doing anything. If the user enters an invalid email address, the function will throw an AssertionError
with the message "Invalid email address".
Potential Applications
This function can be used in any situation where you need to check if a string matches a particular pattern. Some common applications include:
Validating user input
Parsing data
Searching for text
Checking for errors
assert.notDeepEqual
The assert.notDeepEqual()
function is used to test if two objects are not deeply equal. Two objects are deeply equal if they have the same properties, and the values of those properties are also deeply equal.
In this example, the two objects are deeply equal, so the assert.notDeepEqual()
function will throw an error.
In this example, the two objects are not deeply equal, so the assert.notDeepEqual()
function will not throw an error.
The assert.notDeepEqual()
function can be used to test the equality of any two objects. It is a useful tool for debugging and testing code.
Real World Applications
The assert.notDeepEqual()
function can be used in a variety of real world applications, such as:
Testing the equality of two objects in a database query
Testing the equality of two objects in a web application
Testing the equality of two objects in a unit test
Code Implementations
Here is a complete code implementation of the assert.notDeepEqual()
function:
Here is an example of how to use the assert.notDeepEqual()
function:
Potential Applications
The assert.notDeepEqual()
function can be used in a variety of potential applications, such as:
Testing the equality of two objects in a database query
Testing the equality of two objects in a web application
Testing the equality of two objects in a unit test
assert.notDeepStrictEqual(actual, expected[, message])
assert.notDeepStrictEqual(actual, expected[, message])
Tests if two objects are not deeply strictly equal. Deep strict equality means that the objects have the same structure, and that all of their properties are deeply strictly equal.
Parameters:
actual
: The first object to compare.expected
: The second object to compare.message
(optional): A custom error message to use if the assertion fails.
Returns:
Nothing.
Throws:
AssertionError
if theactual
andexpected
objects are deeply strictly equal.
Example:
In this example, the assert.notDeepStrictEqual()
function is used to test if the two objects are not deeply strictly equal. The first object has a property a
that is set to the number 1
, while the second object has a property a
that is set to the string '1'
. Because the two objects have different types for their a
properties, they are not deeply strictly equal. Therefore, the assertion passes.
Real-world applications:
The assert.notDeepStrictEqual()
function can be used to test if two objects are not deeply strictly equal. This can be useful in situations where you need to ensure that two objects have different structures or properties. For example, you could use the assert.notDeepStrictEqual()
function to test if two objects have different schemas or if they contain different data.
Additional notes:
The
assert.notDeepStrictEqual()
function is the opposite of theassert.deepStrictEqual()
function.The
assert.notDeepStrictEqual()
function uses the same deep equality algorithm as theassert.deepStrictEqual()
function.The
assert.notDeepStrictEqual()
function throws anAssertionError
if theactual
andexpected
objects are deeply strictly equal.
assert.notEqual(actual, expected[, message])
assert.notEqual(actual, expected[, message])
Syntax:
actual
: Value to be tested against expected.expected
: Value to compare against the actual value.message
: Optional error message to display if the assertion fails.
Description:
Strict Assertion Mode (introduced in Node.js v12.10.0):
This function is an alias of
assert.notStrictEqual()
, which performs a strict inequality comparison.It tests if
actual
is not strictly equal toexpected
.If they are not equal, the assertion passes, otherwise an
AssertionError
is thrown.
Legacy Assertion Mode (deprecated since Node.js v12.10.0):
Tests if
actual
is not shallowly equal toexpected
.Shallow equality is done using the
!=
operator.NaN
values are treated as equal in legacy mode.
Example 1: Strict Mode:
Example 2: Legacy Mode:
Real-World Applications:
Validating input, such as checking that a user's password does not match their username.
Enforcing uniqueness constraints in data structures or databases.
Testing for specific error conditions or expected exceptions.
assert.notStrictEqual(actual, expected[, message])
Purpose:
Checks if two values are not strictly equal, meaning they have different values and are not the same type.
Parameters:
actual: The actual value to test.
expected: The expected value to compare against.
message (optional): A custom error message to display if the assertion fails.
How it works:
Javascript has a special function called Object.is()
that determines if two values are strictly equal. This function considers values like 0
and -0
as being different, and it also checks for data types. For example, 1
and "1"
are not strictly equal because they have different data types.
The assert.notStrictEqual()
function uses Object.is()
to check if the actual
and expected
values are not strictly equal. If they are not equal, the function does nothing, and execution continues. However, if the values are strictly equal, the function throws an AssertionError
exception.
Real-world Examples:
Example 1: Checking if two numbers are not equal:
Example 2: Checking if two strings are not equal:
Example 3: Checking if two objects are not strictly equal:
Potential Applications:
The assert.notStrictEqual()
function can be useful in unit testing, where you want to ensure that certain conditions or values are not met. For example, you might use it to test that a function returns a specific non-default value.
assert.ok()
The assert.ok()
function in Node.js is used to test if a given value is truthy. A truthy value is a value that, when evaluated in a Boolean context, is considered true. In JavaScript, the following values are considered truthy:
true
Any non-zero number
Any non-empty string
Any non-
null
object
Simplified Explanation:
Imagine you have a value, let's call it myValue
. You want to check if myValue
is "true-like". If it is, you want to continue running your code. If it's not, you want to stop and report an error.
That's where assert.ok()
comes in. It takes your myValue
and checks if it's truthy. If it is, everything is good and your code continues running. If it's not, assert.ok()
throws an error, letting you know that something's wrong.
Real-World Example:
Let's say you have a function that takes a parameter and expects it to be a truthy value. If it's not, the function throws an error. You can use assert.ok()
to test this before calling the function, ensuring that you don't get unexpected errors.
Code Example:
Potential Applications:
Checking user input for validity
Ensuring that function parameters meet certain requirements
Debugging code to find missing or invalid values
Writing unit tests to verify the correctness of your code
Simplified Explanation of assert.rejects()
Imagine you have a friend who's making you a promise to do something, and you want to check if they'll really keep it.
What assert.rejects()
does:
Waits for your friend to finish their task (promise to complete).
Checks if they didn't keep their promise (the promise is rejected).
If they didn't, it tells you they broke their promise!
How to use assert.rejects()
:
Pass it the promise or function that makes the promise: This is your friend's task.
Optionally, pass in a description of the error you expect: If you know what kind of error your friend might make, you can tell
assert.rejects()
to check for it.Optionally, pass in a custom error message: If you want to give a more specific error message when your friend doesn't keep their promise, you can do that too.
Real-World Example:
Let's say you have a function called getCoffee()
that you expect to throw an error if there's no coffee left. You can use assert.rejects()
to check that:
Potential Applications:
Testing functions that are expected to fail (e.g., validation checks).
Verifying that promises are rejected as expected.
Debugging code that handles rejection scenarios.
Simplified Code Snippet:
assert.strictEqual(actual, expected[, message])
assert.strictEqual(actual, expected[, message])
Purpose
The assert.strictEqual()
function in Node.js is used to test whether two values are strictly equal, meaning they have the same value and are of the same type.
Syntax
Parameters
actual
: The actual value being tested.expected
: The expected value that the actual value should be equal to.message
(optional): An optional error message to be included in the error thrown if the assertion fails.
How it works
The assert.strictEqual()
function uses the strict equality operator (===
) to compare the actual
and expected
values. If the values are not strictly equal, the function throws an AssertionError
exception with the specified error message (or a default message if no message is provided).
Example
Real-World Application
The assert.strictEqual()
function can be used in unit tests to ensure that the expected output of a function or method matches the actual output. For example, the following test verifies that the add()
function correctly adds two numbers:
assert.throws(fn[, error][, message])
This function in Node.js is used to test if a function (fn
) throws an error.
How to use it:
fn
: This is the function you want to test. It should throw an error.error
: This is optional. It can be:A regular expression that matches the error message.
A function that returns
true
if the error matches the expected error.An error object that the thrown error should match.
message
: This is also optional. It's a custom error message that will be added to the error thrown by theAssertionError
if thefn
call doesn't throw an error or if the error validation fails.
Example:
Real-World Application:
This function is useful when you want to ensure that a certain function or operation throws an error. For example, if you have a function that validates user input, you can use assert.throws()
to test if it throws an error when invalid input is provided.
Potential Applications:
Testing error handling in code.
Validating input data.
Ensuring that functions throw specific errors.
Writing unit tests for error-prone code.