IntelliJ IDEA 2024.2 Help

Run tests

There are several ways to run tests including, from a file or folder, using the Run widget, and from the Structure tool window. This article covers running tests in general. If you're looking for information for a specific build tool, see:

Run tests directly in a file or folder

If your tests don't require any specific actions before start, and you don't want to configure additional options, such as code coverage, you can run them by using the following options:

  • Place the caret at the test class to run all tests in that class, or at the test method, and press Ctrl+Shift+F10. Alternatively, click the gutter icon next to the test class or test method and select Run '<test name>' from the list.

    The gutter icon changes depending on the state of your test:

    • The gutter icon marks a set of tests.

    • The gutter icon marks new tests.

    • The gutter icon marks successful tests.

    • The gutter icon marks failed tests.

    Running a test using the gutter icon
  • To run all tests in a folder, select this folder in the Project tool window and press Ctrl+Shift+F10 or select Run Tests in 'folder' from the context menu.

Run tests using the Run widget

When you run a test, IntelliJ IDEA creates a temporary run configuration. You can save temporary run configurations, change their settings, share them with other members of your team. For more information, refer to Run/debug configurations.

  1. Create a new run configuration or save a temporary one.

  2. Use the Run widget on the main toolbar to select the configuration you want to run.

  3. Click or press Shift+F10.

    Running a run/debug configuration for tests

Run tests from Structure

In the Structure tool window, you can select one or several test methods in a class to run. In this case, the IDE also creates a temporary run configuration with these methods that you can save and edit.

  1. In the Structure tool window, right-click one or several test methods and select Run 'method name' (Ctrl+Shift+F10).

    Run code from the tool window

    The tool window allows you to add test methods to an existing run configuration (for JUnit and TestNG tests) in which the test scope is specified by means of a pattern. You can add methods from several different classes creating a test suite.

  2. Right-click a method in the Structure tool window and select:

    • Add to temp suite: <Configuration_name> if there is only one configuration with the Pattern test scope.

    • Add to JUnit Pattern Suite (JUnit) / Add to Temp Suite (TestNG) if there are several configurations with the Pattern test scope. In this case, a popup appears in which you can select the target configuration.

    Run code from the tool window

After IntelliJ IDEA finishes running your tests, it shows the results in the Run tool window on the tab for that run configuration. For more information about analyzing test results, refer to Explore test results.

Tests shows in run configuration tab

The console on the right shows the output of the current test session. The test results toolbar located above the list of test results provides you with several helpful options.

the test results toolbar

Run tests after commit

When you want to check that your changes wouldn't break the code before pushing them, you can do that by running tests as commit checks.

Set up test configuration

  1. Press Alt+0 to open the Commit tool window and click Show Commit Options the Settings button.

  2. Under the Commit Checks menu, next to the Run Tests option, click Choose configuration and select which configuration you want to run. This can be a test configuration provided by your build tool, for example, gradle test or a single test class from the project.

    Pre-commit checks menu

After you have set up the test configuration, the specified tests will run every time you make a commit.

Stop tests

Use the following options on the test results toolbar of the tab for the run configuration:

  • Click the Stop button or press Ctrl+F2 to terminate the process immediately.

    Stop running tests
  • Click the Exit button to terminate the process gracefully, allowing shutdown hooks to run.

    Terminate running tests gracefully

Rerun tests

Rerun a single test

  • Right-click a test on the tab for the run configuration in the Run tool window and select Run 'test name'.

    Rerun a single test

Rerun all tests in a session

  • Click the Rerun button on the test results toolbar or press Ctrl+F5 to rerun all tests in a session.

    Rerun all session tests

Rerun failed tests

  • Click the Rerun Failed Tests icon on the test results toolbar to rerun only failed tests.

    Rerun failed tests

    Hold Shift and click to choose whether you want to Run the failed tests again or Debug them.

    You can configure the IDE to trigger tests that were ignored or not started during the previous test run together with failed tests. Click the Settings button on the test results toolbar and enable the Include Non-Started Tests into Rerun Failed option.

Rerun tests automatically

In IntelliJ IDEA, you can enable the autotest-like runner: any test in the current run configuration restarts automatically after you change the related source code.

  • Click Rerun Automatically on the test results toolbar to enable the autotest-like runner.

    Rerun Automatically option

Debug failed tests

If you don't know why a test fails, you can debug it.

  1. In the editor, click the gutter on the line where you want to set a breakpoint.

    There are different types of breakpoints that you can use depending on where you want to suspend the program. For more information, refer to Breakpoints.

  2. Right-click the gutter icon next to the failed test and select Debug 'test name'.

    The test will rerun in debug mode. After that, the test will be suspended, allowing you to examine its current state.

    You can step through the test to analyze its execution in detail.

    Debugging a test using the gutter icon
Last modified: 20 September 2024