JetBrains Rider 2023.3 Help

Unit test sessions

You can group unit tests that target specific parts of your application into multiple unit test sessions. A unit test session can contain tests of different supported frameworks, from different projects. You can have multiple test sessions and run them separately as needed. A single test /test class can be included in several different test sessions.

Access unit test sessions

Unit test sessions management is done in the session tabs of the Unit Tests window . To open this window, press Alt+Shift+8 or choose View | Tool Windows | Unit Tests from the main menu. The window also opens automatically each time you run, debug, or cover unit tests from the current document or from the project/solution, create a new test session, or add tests to a test session.

All existing unit test sessions are displayed in tabs of the Unit Tests window, where you can execute tests and analyze results.

JetBrains Rider: Unit test sessions

The Unit Tests window also visualizes the test runner activity: it displays execution progress as well as status and output of the executed tests. Each time you run, debug, or cover tests they are either added to the current test session or a new unit test session is created for them.

To search tests, start typing a test name or its CamelHumps abbreviation as soon as your focus is in this window.

When your focus is in the Unit Tests window, you can use simplified shortcuts for unit testing actions. For example, you can use Ctrl+D instead of Ctrl+;, D for debugging selected tests. Here is the full list of extra shortcuts that work in the Unit Tests window:

  • Shift+EnterRun Selected Tests

  • Ctrl+DDebug Selected Tests

  • Ctrl+YRun Current Session

  • Alt+Shift+InsertCreate New Session

  • Ctrl+Alt+InsertAppend Selected Tests to Session

  • DeleteRemove Selected Tests

  • Ctrl+LRun All Tests from Solution

Create and close unit test sessions

There are several ways to create a new test session:

  • Just run, debug, or cover unit tests from the current document or from the project/solution. If there is an open unit test session, the executed tests are added to that session. If there are no test sessions or the existing ones are locked, then a new tests session is created.

  • In the editor, click an action indicator next to a test or test class , and then choose Create New Session in the action list. A new session with this test/test class will be created.

  • In the Unit Tests window, select tests/test classes for the new session and choose Create New Session from the context menu or press Ctrl+;, N.

  • From the main menu, choose Tests | Create New Session or press Ctrl+;, N. If the focus is in the editor or in the Unit Tests window and some tests/test classes are selected, or the caret is at or inside a test/test class, the new test session is created with the corresponding items. Otherwise, an empty test session is created.

If you want to prevent adding new tests to the session, you can lock this session.

To close a unit test session, close the corresponding tab in the Unit Test Sessions window. The closed session will not be available anymore.

Add and remove items in a test session

By default, if you run, debug, or cover tests that are not included in any session the tests are added to the current session.

If you want to prevent adding new tests to the session, you can lock this session.

There are other ways to add tests/test classes to a session:

  • In the editor, click an action indicator next to a test or test class , and then choose Append to [current session] in the action list. If you want to add the item to another section, click the small arrow next to this command and choose any of the existing test sessions in a sub-menu: You can also choose Tests | Append Tests to Session in the main menu or press Ctrl+;, A to add the selected items to a session.

  • In the Unit Tests window, select tests/test classes that you want to add and press Ctrl+;, A. If there are more than one session, choose the target session in the popup that appears.

To remove tests from the session, select the tests or grouping items that you want to remove and click Remove Selected Tests ThemedIcon.Remove.Screen.(Gray).png on the toolbar.

Rename test sessions

By default, the first test/class that you add to a new test session is used as the session's name.

To rename a session, right-click the session's tab and choose Rename session from the context menu and then specify a new name for the session in the appeared dialog.

Rename unit test session

Lock and unlock unit tests sessions

By default, if you run, debug, or cover tests that are not included in any session the tests are added to the current session.

If necessary, you can prevent adding new tests to a session. To do so, in the Unit Tests window switch to the tab of the session that you want to lock, click Options on the toolbar, and then select Lock Session.

To unlock the session, repeat the same actions.

Save and restore unit test sessions

By default, unit test sessions are saved automatically for each solution; JetBrains Rider keeps them even if you close and reopen the solution. If necessary, you choose not to keep unit test sessions by clearing the Save and restore Unit Test Sessions checkbox on the Build, Execution, Deployment | Unit Testing page of JetBrains Rider settings Ctrl+Alt+S.

If necessary, you can also save any test session in a file and then open it when needed. To save a session, select the corresponding tab in the Unit Tests window and click Export Session on the toolbar and then choose where to save the session file.

To open a saved session, click Import Session in the Explorer tab of the Unit Tests window and then select a .testsession file.

Last modified: 18 March 2024