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How to Skip Tests Based on Condition In Pytest?

4 minutes read

In pytest, you can skip certain tests based on a condition using the pytest.mark.skipif decorator. You can specify the condition as a boolean expression that determines whether the test should be skipped or not. If the condition evaluates to True, the test will be skipped when running the pytest suite. This can be useful when you only want to run certain tests under specific conditions, such as skipping tests on a certain platform or when a certain dependency is missing.


How to skip a test in pytest based on the return value of a function?

You can skip a test in pytest based on the return value of a function by using the skipif decorator in combination with a function that returns True or False based on your condition. Here's an example:

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import pytest

def should_skip_test():
    # Define your condition here
    return False  # Change this to True if you want to skip the test

@pytest.mark.skipif(should_skip_test(), reason="Skipping this test based on the condition")
def test_example():
    assert 1 + 1 == 2


In this example, the test_example will be skipped if the should_skip_test() function returns True. You can adjust the logic inside the should_skip_test() function to control when the test should be skipped based on any condition you need.


What is the difference between marking a test as skipped and marking it as xfail in pytest?

In pytest, marking a test as "skipped" means that the test will not be executed during the test run, and the reason for skipping the test can be provided in the test function or in the command line when running the tests. This is typically done when a certain test cannot be run for some reason (e.g. dependency not met, non-relevant for a certain platform).


On the other hand, marking a test as "xfail" (expected failure) means that the test is expected to fail, but the test runner will not report it as a failure. This is useful when a bug or an issue is known, but the test is kept in the test suite to ensure it will pass in the future once the bug is fixed. The xfail mark can also include the reason for the expected failure.


How to skip tests selectively in pytest using custom markers?

To skip tests selectively in pytest using custom markers, you can define custom markers in your test functions and then use those markers to skip tests with the "-m" flag in pytest.


Here is an example of how you can skip tests selectively using custom markers in pytest:

  1. Define custom markers in your test functions:
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import pytest

@pytest.mark.skipif(condition=True, reason="Skipping this test because of a known issue")
def test_something():
    assert 1 == 1

@pytest.mark.skip(reason="Skipping this test because it is not implemented yet")
def test_another_thing():
    assert 2 == 2


  1. Run pytest with the "-m" flag to selectively skip tests based on their markers:
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pytest -m "not skip"


This command will run all tests that do not have the "skip" marker defined, skipping only the tests with the "skip" marker.


You can also skip tests with specific markers:

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pytest -m skip


This command will only run tests with the "skip" marker defined, skipping all other tests.


By defining custom markers in your test functions and using the "-m" flag in pytest, you can selectively skip tests based on their markers.


What is the recommended method for debugging skipped tests in pytest?

The recommended method for debugging skipped tests in pytest is to use the following steps:

  1. Use the "-rs" flag when running pytest to show a summary of skipped tests:
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pytest -rs


  1. Check the reason for skipping the test by looking at the skip message displayed in the summary.
  2. Review the code in the test function to understand why it is being skipped. Make sure all the necessary conditions for the test to run are met.
  3. Add print statements or log messages in the test function to see what is happening and why it is being skipped.
  4. If the reason for skipping is not clear, try running the test in isolation by specifying the test name: 
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pytest -k test_name


  1. Use the pytest command-line options and plugins such as pytest-sugar or pytest-cov to get more information about why the test is being skipped.


By following these steps, you should be able to identify and debug any skipped tests in pytest efficiently.

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