C# Testing Patterns

Comprehensive testing patterns for .NET applications using xUnit, FluentAssertions, and modern testing practices.

When to Activate

• Writing new tests for C# code
• Reviewing test quality and coverage
• Setting up test infrastructure for .NET projects
• Debugging flaky or slow tests

Test Framework Stack

Unit Test Structure

Arrange-Act-Assert

public sealed class OrderServiceTests
{
    private readonly IOrderRepository _repository = Substitute.For<IOrderRepository>();
    private readonly ILogger<OrderService> _logger = Substitute.For<ILogger<OrderService>>();
    private readonly OrderService _sut;

    public OrderServiceTests()
    {
        _sut = new OrderService(_repository, _logger);
    }

    [Fact]
    public async Task PlaceOrderAsync_ReturnsSuccess_WhenRequestIsValid()
    {
        // Arrange
        var request = new CreateOrderRequest
        {
            CustomerId = "cust-123",
            Items = [new OrderItem("SKU-001", 2, 29.99m)]
        };

        // Act
        var result = await _sut.PlaceOrderAsync(request, CancellationToken.None);

        // Assert
        result.IsSuccess.Should().BeTrue();
        result.Value.Should().NotBeNull();
        result.Value!.CustomerId.Should().Be("cust-123");
    }

    [Fact]
    public async Task PlaceOrderAsync_ReturnsFailure_WhenNoItems()
    {
        // Arrange
        var request = new CreateOrderRequest
        {
            CustomerId = "cust-123",
            Items = []
        };

        // Act
        var result = await _sut.PlaceOrderAsync(request, CancellationToken.None);

        // Assert
        result.IsSuccess.Should().BeFalse();
        result.Error.Should().Contain("at least one item");
    }
}

Parameterized Tests with Theory

[Theory]
[InlineData("", false)]
[InlineData("a", false)]
[InlineData("ab@c.d", false)]
[InlineData("user@example.com", true)]
[InlineData("user+tag@example.co.uk", true)]
public void IsValidEmail_ReturnsExpected(string email, bool expected)
{
    EmailValidator.IsValid(email).Should().Be(expected);
}

[Theory]
[MemberData(nameof(InvalidOrderCases))]
public async Task PlaceOrderAsync_RejectsInvalidOrders(CreateOrderRequest request, string expectedError)
{
    var result = await _sut.PlaceOrderAsync(request, CancellationToken.None);

    result.IsSuccess.Should().BeFalse();
    result.Error.Should().Contain(expectedError);
}

public static TheoryData<CreateOrderRequest, string> InvalidOrderCases => new()
{
    { new() { CustomerId = "", Items = [ValidItem()] }, "CustomerId" },
    { new() { CustomerId = "c1", Items = [] }, "at least one item" },
    { new() { CustomerId = "c1", Items = [new("", 1, 10m)] }, "SKU" },
};

Mocking with NSubstitute

[Fact]
public async Task GetOrderAsync_ReturnsNull_WhenNotFound()
{
    // Arrange
    var orderId = Guid.NewGuid();
    _repository.FindByIdAsync(orderId, Arg.Any<CancellationToken>())
        .Returns((Order?)null);

    // Act
    var result = await _sut.GetOrderAsync(orderId, CancellationToken.None);

    // Assert
    result.Should().BeNull();
}

[Fact]
public async Task PlaceOrderAsync_PersistsOrder()
{
    // Arrange
    var request = ValidOrderRequest();

    // Act
    await _sut.PlaceOrderAsync(request, CancellationToken.None);

    // Assert — verify the repository was called
    await _repository.Received(1).AddAsync(
        Arg.Is<Order>(o => o.CustomerId == request.CustomerId),
        Arg.Any<CancellationToken>());
}

ASP.NET Core Integration Tests

WebApplicationFactory Setup

public sealed class OrderApiTests : IClassFixture<WebApplicationFactory<Program>>
{
    private readonly HttpClient _client;

    public OrderApiTests(WebApplicationFactory<Program> factory)
    {
        _client = factory.WithWebHostBuilder(builder =>
        {
            builder.ConfigureServices(services =>
            {
                // Replace real DB with in-memory for tests
                services.RemoveAll<DbContextOptions<AppDbContext>>();
                services.AddDbContext<AppDbContext>(options =>

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