Behat vs PHPUnit: What are the differences?

Introduction

Behat and PHPUnit are two popular testing frameworks used in the software development industry. While both frameworks are used for testing software applications, they have several key differences that set them apart.

1. Programming Language: Behat is primarily used for testing behavior-driven development (BDD) scenarios and is written in PHP. It focuses on testing the behavior of the software by using human-readable language in its test cases. On the other hand, PHPUnit is a unit testing framework also written in PHP. It is mainly used for testing individual units of code or functions in isolation.

2. Testing Level: Behat is designed for high-level end-to-end testing, often called acceptance or black-box testing. It simulates the end-user interactions with the application and ensures that the software meets the specified requirements. PHPUnit, on the other hand, is used for unit testing, which aims to test the smallest components or units of code, such as functions or classes.

3. Test Syntax: Behat uses a natural language syntax called Gherkin to define its test scenarios. Gherkin provides a way to express the expected behavior of the software in a structured format that is easy to understand for both technical and non-technical stakeholders. PHPUnit, on the other hand, uses a more traditional programming syntax to define the test cases.

4. Test Granularity: Behat tests are typically written at a higher level of granularity, focusing on testing the application's features and user interactions. It allows for testing end-to-end scenarios, such as simulating user journeys through different pages or actions. PHPUnit tests, on the other hand, are more focused on testing the functionality of specific units of code and are often written at a lower level of granularity.

5. Integration with Frameworks: Behat is designed to integrate well with popular PHP frameworks, such as Symfony and Laravel. It provides built-in support for these frameworks and allows for easy integration with their components and libraries. PHPUnit, on the other hand, is a standalone testing framework that can be used with any PHP project, regardless of the framework being used.

6. Test Execution: Behat tests are typically executed by running the Behat command-line interface (CLI) command, which reads the test scenarios defined in feature files and executes them sequentially. PHPUnit tests, on the other hand, are executed by running the PHPUnit CLI command, which automatically discovers and executes all the defined unit tests in a project.

In summary, Behat and PHPUnit are both testing frameworks used in software development, but they differ in programming language, testing level, test syntax, test granularity, integration with frameworks, and test execution methods.