# Working with custom markers

Here are some example using the Marking test functions with attributes mechanism.

## Marking test functions and selecting them for a run

You can “mark” a test function with custom metadata like this:

    # content of test_server.py

    import pytest
    @pytest.mark.webtest
    def test_send_http():
        pass # perform some webtest test for your app
    def test_something_quick():
        pass
    def test_another():
        pass
    class TestClass:
        def test_method(self):
            pass

New in version 2.2.

You can then restrict a test run to only run tests marked with `webtest`:

    $ py.test -v -m webtest
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0 -- $PWD/.env/bin/python2.7
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collecting ... collected 4 items

    test_server.py::test_send_http PASSED

    ======= 3 tests deselected by "-m 'webtest'" ========
    ======= 1 passed, 3 deselected in 0.12 seconds ========

Or the inverse, running all tests except the webtest ones:

    $ py.test -v -m "not webtest"
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0 -- $PWD/.env/bin/python2.7
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collecting ... collected 4 items

    test_server.py::test_something_quick PASSED
    test_server.py::test_another PASSED
    test_server.py::TestClass::test_method PASSED

    ======= 1 tests deselected by "-m 'not webtest'" ========
    ======= 3 passed, 1 deselected in 0.12 seconds ========

## Selecting tests based on their node ID

You can provide one or more node IDs as positional arguments to select only specified tests. This makes it easy to select tests based on their module, class, method, or function name:

    $ py.test -v test_server.py::TestClass::test_method
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0 -- $PWD/.env/bin/python2.7
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collecting ... collected 5 items

    test_server.py::TestClass::test_method PASSED

    ======= 1 passed in 0.12 seconds ========

You can also select on the class:

    $ py.test -v test_server.py::TestClass
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0 -- $PWD/.env/bin/python2.7
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collecting ... collected 4 items

    test_server.py::TestClass::test_method PASSED

    ======= 1 passed in 0.12 seconds ========

Or select multiple nodes:

    $ py.test -v test_server.py::TestClass test_server.py::test_send_http
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0 -- $PWD/.env/bin/python2.7
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collecting ... collected 8 items

    test_server.py::TestClass::test_method PASSED
    test_server.py::test_send_http PASSED

    ======= 2 passed in 0.12 seconds ========

Note

Node IDs are of the form `module.py::class::method` or `module.py::function`. Node IDs control which tests are collected, so `module.py::class` will select all test methods on the class. Nodes are also created for each parameter of a parametrized fixture or test, so selecting a parametrized test must include the parameter value, e.g. `module.py::function[param]`.

Node IDs for failing tests are displayed in the test summary info when running py.test with the `-rf` option. You can also construct Node IDs from the output of `py.test --collectonly`.

## Using `-k expr` to select tests based on their name

You can use the `-k` command line option to specify an expression which implements a substring match on the test names instead of the exact match on markers that `-m` provides. This makes it easy to select tests based on their names:

    $ py.test -v -k http  # running with the above defined example module
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0 -- $PWD/.env/bin/python2.7
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collecting ... collected 4 items

    test_server.py::test_send_http PASSED

    ======= 3 tests deselected by '-khttp' ========
    ======= 1 passed, 3 deselected in 0.12 seconds ========

And you can also run all tests except the ones that match the keyword:

    $ py.test -k "not send_http" -v
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0 -- $PWD/.env/bin/python2.7
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collecting ... collected 4 items

    test_server.py::test_something_quick PASSED
    test_server.py::test_another PASSED
    test_server.py::TestClass::test_method PASSED

    ======= 1 tests deselected by '-knot send_http' ========
    ======= 3 passed, 1 deselected in 0.12 seconds ========

Or to select “http” and “quick” tests:

    $ py.test -k "http or quick" -v
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0 -- $PWD/.env/bin/python2.7
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collecting ... collected 4 items

    test_server.py::test_send_http PASSED
    test_server.py::test_something_quick PASSED

    ======= 2 tests deselected by '-khttp or quick' ========
    ======= 2 passed, 2 deselected in 0.12 seconds ========

Note

If you are using expressions such as “X and Y” then both X and Y need to be simple non-keyword names. For example, “pass” or “from” will result in SyntaxErrors because “-k” evaluates the expression.

However, if the “-k” argument is a simple string, no such restrictions apply. Also “-k ‘not STRING’” has no restrictions. You can also specify numbers like “-k 1.3” to match tests which are parametrized with the float “1.3”.

## Registering markers

New in version 2.2.

Registering markers for your test suite is simple:

    # content of pytest.ini
    [pytest]
    markers =
        webtest: mark a test as a webtest.

You can ask which markers exist for your test suite - the list includes our just defined `webtest` markers:

    $ py.test --markers
    @pytest.mark.webtest: mark a test as a webtest.

    @pytest.mark.skipif(condition): skip the given test function if eval(condition) results in a True value.  Evaluation happens within the module global context. Example: skipif('sys.platform == "win32"') skips the test if we are on the win32 platform. see http://pytest.org/latest/skipping.html

    @pytest.mark.xfail(condition, reason=None, run=True, raises=None): mark the the test function as an expected failure if eval(condition) has a True value. Optionally specify a reason for better reporting and run=False if you don't even want to execute the test function. If only specific exception(s) are expected, you can list them in raises, and if the test fails in other ways, it will be reported as a true failure. See http://pytest.org/latest/skipping.html

    @pytest.mark.parametrize(argnames, argvalues): call a test function multiple times passing in different arguments in turn. argvalues generally needs to be a list of values if argnames specifies only one name or a list of tuples of values if argnames specifies multiple names. Example: @parametrize('arg1', [1,2]) would lead to two calls of the decorated test function, one with arg1=1 and another with arg1=2.see http://pytest.org/latest/parametrize.html for more info and examples.

    @pytest.mark.usefixtures(fixturename1, fixturename2, ...): mark tests as needing all of the specified fixtures. see http://pytest.org/latest/fixture.html#usefixtures

    @pytest.mark.tryfirst: mark a hook implementation function such that the plugin machinery will try to call it first/as early as possible.

    @pytest.mark.trylast: mark a hook implementation function such that the plugin machinery will try to call it last/as late as possible.

For an example on how to add and work with markers from a plugin, see Custom marker and command line option to control test runs.

Note

It is recommended to explicitely register markers so that:

- there is one place in your test suite defining your markers
- asking for existing markers via `py.test --markers` gives good output
- typos in function markers are treated as an error if you use the `--strict` option. Future versions of `pytest` are probably going to start treating non-registered markers as errors at some point.

## Marking whole classes or modules

If you are programming with Python 2.6 or later you may use `pytest.mark` decorators with classes to apply markers to all of its test methods:

    # content of test_mark_classlevel.py
    import pytest
    @pytest.mark.webtest
    class TestClass:
        def test_startup(self):
            pass
        def test_startup_and_more(self):
            pass

This is equivalent to directly applying the decorator to the two test functions.

To remain backward-compatible with Python 2.4 you can also set a `pytestmark` attribute on a TestClass like this:

    import pytest

    class TestClass:
        pytestmark = pytest.mark.webtest

or if you need to use multiple markers you can use a list:

    import pytest

    class TestClass:
        pytestmark = [pytest.mark.webtest, pytest.mark.slowtest]

You can also set a module level marker:

    import pytest
    pytestmark = pytest.mark.webtest

in which case it will be applied to all functions and methods defined in the module.

## Marking individual tests when using parametrize

When using parametrize, applying a mark will make it apply to each individual test. However it is also possible to apply a marker to an individual test instance:

    import pytest

    @pytest.mark.foo
    @pytest.mark.parametrize(("n", "expected"), [
        (1, 2),
        pytest.mark.bar((1, 3)),
        (2, 3),
    ])
    def test_increment(n, expected):
         assert n + 1 == expected

In this example the mark “foo” will apply to each of the three tests, whereas the “bar” mark is only applied to the second test. Skip and xfail marks can also be applied in this way, see Skip/xfail with parametrize.

Note

If the data you are parametrizing happen to be single callables, you need to be careful when marking these items. pytest.mark.xfail(my_func) won’t work because it’s also the signature of a function being decorated. To resolve this ambiguity, you need to pass a reason argument: pytest.mark.xfail(func_bar, reason=”Issue#7”).

## Custom marker and command line option to control test runs

Plugins can provide custom markers and implement specific behaviour based on it. This is a self-contained example which adds a command line option and a parametrized test function marker to run tests specifies via named environments:

    # content of conftest.py

    import pytest
    def pytest_addoption(parser):
        parser.addoption("-E", action="store", metavar="NAME",
            help="only run tests matching the environment NAME.")

    def pytest_configure(config):
        # register an additional marker
        config.addinivalue_line("markers",
            "env(name): mark test to run only on named environment")

    def pytest_runtest_setup(item):
        envmarker = item.get_marker("env")
        if envmarker is not None:
            envname = envmarker.args[0]
            if envname != item.config.getoption("-E"):
                pytest.skip("test requires env %r" % envname)

A test file using this local plugin:

    # content of test_someenv.py

    import pytest
    @pytest.mark.env("stage1")
    def test_basic_db_operation():
        pass

and an example invocations specifying a different environment than what the test needs:

    $ py.test -E stage2
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collected 1 items

    test_someenv.py s

    ======= 1 skipped in 0.12 seconds ========

and here is one that specifies exactly the environment needed:

    $ py.test -E stage1
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collected 1 items

    test_someenv.py .

    ======= 1 passed in 0.12 seconds ========

The `--markers` option always gives you a list of available markers:

    $ py.test --markers
    @pytest.mark.env(name): mark test to run only on named environment

    @pytest.mark.skipif(condition): skip the given test function if eval(condition) results in a True value.  Evaluation happens within the module global context. Example: skipif('sys.platform == "win32"') skips the test if we are on the win32 platform. see http://pytest.org/latest/skipping.html

    @pytest.mark.xfail(condition, reason=None, run=True, raises=None): mark the the test function as an expected failure if eval(condition) has a True value. Optionally specify a reason for better reporting and run=False if you don't even want to execute the test function. If only specific exception(s) are expected, you can list them in raises, and if the test fails in other ways, it will be reported as a true failure. See http://pytest.org/latest/skipping.html

    @pytest.mark.parametrize(argnames, argvalues): call a test function multiple times passing in different arguments in turn. argvalues generally needs to be a list of values if argnames specifies only one name or a list of tuples of values if argnames specifies multiple names. Example: @parametrize('arg1', [1,2]) would lead to two calls of the decorated test function, one with arg1=1 and another with arg1=2.see http://pytest.org/latest/parametrize.html for more info and examples.

    @pytest.mark.usefixtures(fixturename1, fixturename2, ...): mark tests as needing all of the specified fixtures. see http://pytest.org/latest/fixture.html#usefixtures

    @pytest.mark.tryfirst: mark a hook implementation function such that the plugin machinery will try to call it first/as early as possible.

    @pytest.mark.trylast: mark a hook implementation function such that the plugin machinery will try to call it last/as late as possible.

## Reading markers which were set from multiple places

If you are heavily using markers in your test suite you may encounter the case where a marker is applied several times to a test function. From plugin code you can read over all such settings. Example:

    # content of test_mark_three_times.py
    import pytest
    pytestmark = pytest.mark.glob("module", x=1)

    @pytest.mark.glob("class", x=2)
    class TestClass:
        @pytest.mark.glob("function", x=3)
        def test_something(self):
            pass

Here we have the marker “glob” applied three times to the same test function. From a conftest file we can read it like this:

    # content of conftest.py
    import sys

    def pytest_runtest_setup(item):
        g = item.get_marker("glob")
        if g is not None:
            for info in g:
                print ("glob args=%s kwargs=%s" %(info.args, info.kwargs))
                sys.stdout.flush()

Let’s run this without capturing output and see what we get:

    $ py.test -q -s
    glob args=('function',) kwargs={'x': 3}
    glob args=('class',) kwargs={'x': 2}
    glob args=('module',) kwargs={'x': 1}
    .
    1 passed in 0.12 seconds

## marking platform specific tests with pytest

Consider you have a test suite which marks tests for particular platforms, namely `pytest.mark.osx`, `pytest.mark.win32` etc. and you also have tests that run on all platforms and have no specific marker. If you now want to have a way to only run the tests for your particular platform, you could use the following plugin:

    # content of conftest.py
    #
    import sys
    import pytest

    ALL = set("osx linux2 win32".split())

    def pytest_runtest_setup(item):
        if isinstance(item, item.Function):
            plat = sys.platform
            if not item.get_marker(plat):
                if ALL.intersection(item.keywords):
                    pytest.skip("cannot run on platform %s" %(plat))

then tests will be skipped if they were specified for a different platform. Let’s do a little test file to show how this looks like:

    # content of test_plat.py

    import pytest

    @pytest.mark.osx
    def test_if_apple_is_evil():
        pass

    @pytest.mark.linux2
    def test_if_linux_works():
        pass

    @pytest.mark.win32
    def test_if_win32_crashes():
        pass

    def test_runs_everywhere():
        pass

then you will see two test skipped and two executed tests as expected:

    $ py.test -rs # this option reports skip reasons
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collected 4 items

    test_plat.py s.s.
    ======= short test summary info ========
    SKIP [2] $REGENDOC_TMPDIR/conftest.py:12: cannot run on platform linux2

    ======= 2 passed, 2 skipped in 0.12 seconds ========

Note that if you specify a platform via the marker-command line option like this:

    $ py.test -m linux2
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collected 4 items

    test_plat.py .

    ======= 3 tests deselected by "-m 'linux2'" ========
    ======= 1 passed, 3 deselected in 0.12 seconds ========

then the unmarked-tests will not be run. It is thus a way to restrict the run to the specific tests.

## Automatically adding markers based on test names

If you a test suite where test function names indicate a certain type of test, you can implement a hook that automatically defines markers so that you can use the `-m` option with it. Let’s look at this test module:

    # content of test_module.py

    def test_interface_simple():
        assert 0

    def test_interface_complex():
        assert 0

    def test_event_simple():
        assert 0

    def test_something_else():
        assert 0

We want to dynamically define two markers and can do it in a `conftest.py` plugin:

    # content of conftest.py

    import pytest
    def pytest_collection_modifyitems(items):
        for item in items:
            if "interface" in item.nodeid:
                item.add_marker(pytest.mark.interface)
            elif "event" in item.nodeid:
                item.add_marker(pytest.mark.event)

We can now use the `-m option` to select one set:

    $ py.test -m interface --tb=short
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collected 4 items

    test_module.py FF

    ======= FAILURES ========
    _______ test_interface_simple ________
    test_module.py:3: in test_interface_simple
        assert 0
    E   assert 0
    _______ test_interface_complex ________
    test_module.py:6: in test_interface_complex
        assert 0
    E   assert 0
    ======= 2 tests deselected by "-m 'interface'" ========
    ======= 2 failed, 2 deselected in 0.12 seconds ========

or to select both “event” and “interface” tests:

    $ py.test -m "interface or event" --tb=short
    ======= test session starts ========
    platform linux2 -- Python 2.7.9, pytest-2.8.0.dev4, py-1.4.28, pluggy-0.3.0
    rootdir: $REGENDOC_TMPDIR, inifile:
    collected 4 items

    test_module.py FFF

    ======= FAILURES ========
    _______ test_interface_simple ________
    test_module.py:3: in test_interface_simple
        assert 0
    E   assert 0
    _______ test_interface_complex ________
    test_module.py:6: in test_interface_complex
        assert 0
    E   assert 0
    _______ test_event_simple ________
    test_module.py:9: in test_event_simple
        assert 0
    E   assert 0
    ======= 1 tests deselected by "-m 'interface or event'" ========
    ======= 3 failed, 1 deselected in 0.12 seconds ========