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Choose a Drupal test by the behavior you need to verify: use a unit test for isolated class logic, a kernel test when it needs Drupal services or a limited set of extensions, a functional test for routes, permissions, forms, and rendered output, and a functional JavaScript test when JavaScript or Ajax must run in a real browser. These layers complement one another; none replaces the rest.

Which Drupal test should I write?

Drupal documents four PHPUnit test types. Start at the least expensive layer that can credibly test the behavior, then add higher-level tests for important integration or user journeys.

Test type Base class Drupal environment Real browser JavaScript? Best fit
Unit DrupalTestsUnitTestCase Minimal dependencies; does not require a working Drupal installation. No Isolated class behavior that can be tested without booting Drupal.
Kernel DrupalKernelTestsKernelTestBase Bootstrapped kernel with a minimal set of enabled extensions; requires a database connection. No Code dependent on Drupal services, the entity system, or a limited Drupal environment.
Functional DrupalTestsBrowserTestBase Full booted Drupal instance, reachable through a web server. No Routes, permissions, forms, and rendered output in a complete installation. It simulates browser behavior but does not exercise actual JavaScript or Ajax interaction.
Functional JavaScript DrupalFunctionalJavascriptTestsWebDriverTestBase Drupal plus WebDriver and a real browser. Yes Browser-side behavior, JavaScript, or Ajax.

This taxonomy and the distinctions between the four PHPUnit layers are documented by Drupal.org in Types of tests. Drupal’s broader testing guidance describes a goal of covering all or most components and features and running automated tests to catch regressions before changes are made or added (Drupal API: Automated tests).

Choose by the dependency the behavior needs

  1. Begin with unit testing when the behavior belongs to an isolated class and can be verified without booting Drupal.
  2. Use a kernel test when the code depends on services, entities, or a small set of enabled extensions, but not a full site and browser journey.
  3. Use a functional test when the outcome concerns an accessible route, permission, form submission, or rendered page in a complete Drupal installation.
  4. Use a functional JavaScript test when the expected result depends on JavaScript or Ajax running in a real browser.

Prefer a mix proportionate to the code: isolated logic is usually cheaper to test at the unit layer, while a smaller number of higher-level checks can cover important integration paths. A functional test is not a substitute for a functional JavaScript test if the assertion depends on actual client-side behavior.

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When should I use Cypress, Nightwatch, or Behat?

Drupal also documents browser-testing approaches beyond the four PHPUnit types. Pick a tool based on the workflow and the people who need to maintain the tests; they are not interchangeable simply because several can cover browser behavior.

  • Cypress: consider it for JavaScript or broader browser workflows where it fits the project’s tooling and test environment.
  • Nightwatch: consider it for JavaScript testing; Drupal’s running-tests documentation also points to DDEV Selenium Standalone Chrome for core PHPUnit and Nightwatch testing.
  • Behat: consider it when readable, Gherkin-style scenarios suit the team and the behavior being described.

Drupal’s automated testing overview documents these options. Its documentation does not establish that any one of them is right for every project, so check the current setup requirements against your site’s versions and tooling.

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How do I run PHPUnit tests?

Use Drupal’s current running-tests guide for commands and configuration that match your project’s Drupal, PHP, PHPUnit, database, and development-environment versions. Its running-tests page was updated July 17, 2026, and includes guidance for PHPUnit v9 configurations used with Drupal 10 and below; do not assume those settings apply unchanged to other combinations.

Check configuration and prerequisites

  • By default, PHPUnit reads phpunit.xml from the current directory. Supply another configuration when your project keeps it elsewhere.
  • The guide documents SIMPLETEST_BASE_URL, SIMPLETEST_DB, and BROWSERTEST_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY for PHPUnit v9 configurations used with Drupal 10 and below.
  • A unit test can run without a working Drupal installation. A kernel test needs a database connection. A browser test needs Drupal to be reachable through a web server.
  • If you keep phpunit.xml inside the core/ directory, be aware that updating Composer-managed core may overwrite it. Keep project configuration somewhere appropriate for your workflow and consult the current guide.

For version-aware setup details and commands, see Drupal.org’s Running PHPUnit tests and its overview of PHPUnit in Drupal. The official guide points to DDEV add-ons for PHPUnit workflows and DDEV Selenium Standalone Chrome for core PHPUnit and Nightwatch testing.

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How do I test active configuration?

Choose the test layer according to what “active configuration” means in the behavior you need to verify. If you are checking isolated logic that receives configuration as an input, a unit test may suffice. If the behavior depends on Drupal’s configuration or service environment, use a kernel test; if you need to verify a configuration-driven page, form, or permission in a complete site, use a functional test. When the expected result depends on JavaScript or Ajax, use a functional JavaScript test instead.

Use the running-tests guide’s setup for your Drupal and PHPUnit versions rather than assuming that a single command or configuration applies across projects. The official guide documents the test prerequisites and configuration variables at Running PHPUnit tests.

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Screenshot a Drupal page without setting up a browser

For a Drupal page screenshot, a browser-based test remains the right choice when you need to assert application behavior. If your task is simply to capture a page as an image or PDF, you can use a screenshot API instead. ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server from Yorker Media. It accepts a URL in one GET request and returns a PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF. Its screenshot workflow can accept cookie or consent banners like a visitor and remove 60+ known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each step can be turned off.

Or skip the browser setup

Use the API key from your ScreenshotNeo account; the API documentation is at screenshotneo.com/docs.

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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webp

Cookie banners, popups, and chat widgets are removed before the shot. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits cost nothing; response headers say which page verdict applied and whether the request was billed. An MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. The Free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. Sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month with no card.

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Troubleshooting Drupal test setup

  • PHPUnit is loading the wrong configuration: it reads phpunit.xml in the current directory by default. Run it from the intended project directory or explicitly supply the configuration described in Drupal’s running-tests guide.
  • A kernel test cannot connect to its database: kernel tests require a database connection. Check the connection setup for your environment and version before rerunning.
  • A browser test cannot reach the site: functional browser tests need a Drupal instance reachable through a web server. Confirm the configured base URL and that the site is available in the test environment.
  • JavaScript or Ajax assertions do not reflect browser behavior: ordinary functional tests do not exercise actual JavaScript or Ajax. Move that assertion to a functional JavaScript test using WebDriver, or an appropriate documented browser-testing approach.
  • A local PHPUnit configuration disappears after a core update: Composer-managed updates can overwrite core/phpunit.xml. Avoid relying on a customized file in that location without accounting for the overwrite.
  • A copied command or variable does not fit your project: the running guide’s PHPUnit v9 settings cited above are specifically for Drupal 10 and below. Verify compatibility with your Drupal, PHP, PHPUnit, database, and DDEV versions in the current official documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a real browser for every Drupal test?

No. Unit, kernel, and functional tests cover different behaviors without exercising real browser JavaScript; use functional JavaScript testing when that browser-side behavior matters.

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Can a functional Drupal test verify Ajax?

Not actual Ajax interaction. Drupal’s functional tests simulate browser behavior but do not exercise JavaScript or Ajax; use a functional JavaScript test for that.

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