PHPUnit

Articles about PHPUnit by Sebastian Bergmann

Glass sphere resting on wet pebbles at the shoreline, reflecting a pier and sunset, symbolizing a shift in perspective and bringing clarity to complex testing practices.

March 11, 2026

From anti-pattern to clarity

The any() matcher is deprecated. But migration is easier than you think – and leads to better tests.

The image shows a person untangling a complicated thought in order to find a solution to a problem.

March 4, 2026

Better than withConsecutive()

I explain how PHPUnit 13's parameter set matchers finally solve the problem that made upgrading to PHPUnit 10 such a challenge.

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December 31, 2025

The Stub/Mock Intervention

Self-sabotaging mock objects? With PHPUnit 12.5, that's a thing of the past because the test runner now asks the right question: Do you really need a mock object, or would a test stub suffice?

The image shows a variety of colourful game pieces (such as those often used in board games) arranged on a surface with lines drawn on it connecting the pieces to each other. The pieces are in different colours (e.g. red, yellow, blue, green, purple, black) and stand at the intersections of a schematic network. The lines indicate that the pieces have relationships with or are connected to each other. The image thus visualises a network or web of relationships between different entities, which is often used to illustrate concepts such as networks, social relationships, teamwork or dependencies.

November 28, 2025

Testing with(out) dependencies

Why distinguishing between test stubs and mock objects in PHPUnit significantly improves the quality and readability of tests.

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November 5, 2025

More control, less friction: What's new in PHPUnit 12.4?

Discover how PHPUnit 12.4 helps you get there with less friction and more insight.

The picture shows a light bulb lying on a wooden surface. The light bulb is lit and creates a warm atmosphere. Right next to the light bulb is a small pile of various old metal keys. The interplay between the glowing light bulb and the keys symbolically conveys the idea that ideas (light bulb) can be the key (bunch of keys) to new possibilities or solutions.

October 15, 2025

PHPUnit features that surprise even professionals

Discover the hidden capabilities of PHPUnit and learn how to get the most out of your tests with clever features.

The image shows several people working together to assemble a puzzle made up of yellow pieces that form the shape of a light bulb. The light bulb typically symbolises an idea or innovation. The scene takes place on a wooden table, which also holds a cup of coffee, a glass of water, an open laptop and some documents. The people's hands are visible as they fit the puzzle pieces together, illustrating collaboration and teamwork.

September 1, 2025

Innovation through collaboration: The highlights of PHPUnit 12.3

Discover how collaboration with real-world developers has shaped the latest advancements in PHPUnit 12.3.

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April 4, 2022

How I manage test fixture

I reflect on why I no longer write setUp() methods.

The image depicts a tranquil seascape at sunset or sunrise. The water's surface reflects the warm colours of the sky, which glows in shades of orange, yellow, blue and violet. Several birds can be seen flying in the sky, creating a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. The silhouettes of the birds stand out clearly against the colourful horizon, emphasising the vastness and tranquillity of the scene. In the background, a dark headland or coastline can be seen, completing the picture.

February 7, 2020

Migrating to PHPUnit 9

In the tension between backward compatibility and progress, a good developer experience must not be neglected.

In the picture, a man in a suit is sitting outdoors at a table in front of a laptop. He has raised both hands in frustration and is looking up. His facial expression appears desperate or annoyed. The scene is set on an empty street with benches and buildings in the background. There is also a coffee cup on the table in front of him.

February 1, 2019

Help! My tests stopped working

Running tests at the touch of a button is a great thing. Updating the testing tool at the touch of a button also sounds promising – or perhaps not?

The image shows a small group of four people sitting together in a bright, modern room. In the foreground, a man is sitting with his hand raised, as if he wants to ask a question or speak. The group's attention is focused on a person in the background who is standing in front of the large windows and appears to be speaking or giving a presentation. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a meeting, seminar or training session.

February 5, 2016

Questioning Best Practices

Best practices are not set in stone and need to be questioned and then adapted, if need be, every once in a while.

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