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Automate Drupal testing by matching each behavior to the narrowest PHPUnit test layer that can exercise it, verifying the setup locally, and running those checks in CI whenever code changes. Use unit tests for isolated PHP logic, kernel tests for behavior that needs Drupal bootstrapped, functional tests for full-site workflows, and FunctionalJavascript tests when real browser behavior matters. For Drupal.org projects, current guidance uses GitLab CI and recommends starting with the Drupal Association-maintained template.

Choose the right Drupal test layer

Start with the behavior you need to protect, then choose the least expensive test scope that can genuinely exercise it. A test that is too narrow can miss integration failures; one that launches a full site and browser for simple logic adds avoidable setup and runtime.

Layer What it exercises Good fit Dependencies and trade-offs
Unit Isolated PHP logic with minimal dependencies. Pure logic and many input combinations. Fast and focused, but does not exercise a booted Drupal site.
Kernel A bootstrapped Drupal kernel with selected extensions. Services, entities, and request behavior that need some Drupal runtime. Applicable tests need database configuration; less of the site is available than in a full functional test. Kernel tests can be faster for some checks, but have limitations such as session handling.
Functional A full Drupal instance exercised through BrowserTestBase. Routes, forms, permissions, and site behavior that does not require real JavaScript interaction. Requires more setup and execution cost than isolated unit tests. See Drupal’s PHPUnit execution guide.
FunctionalJavascript A real browser driven through WebDriver. AJAX and actual browser or JavaScript interactions. Needs browser automation tooling and takes longer. Drupal advises using a non-JavaScript layer when browser interaction is not part of what you are testing; see its JavaScript testing guide.

Drupal documents these four PHPUnit layers in its automated testing guide. Keep browser tests for cases where browser fidelity matters rather than treating them as a default for every check.

Build a repeatable local test setup

The exact commands and configuration paths depend on the repository layout and Drupal core branch. Use the project’s own PHPUnit configuration rather than assuming a path copied from another project will work.

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  1. Inventory behavior and risk. List isolated logic, Drupal service or kernel behavior, full user workflows, and browser-only interactions. Assign each case to the narrowest adequate layer.
  2. Install development dependencies. For Composer-based recommended projects, Drupal’s guide shows adding drupal/core-dev as a development dependency. Git-based checkouts need their Composer dependencies installed. Keep development-only dependencies off production servers.
  3. Configure PHPUnit deliberately. Set the Drupal bootstrap and test paths, then configure the base URL and database connection where required. Make sure the browser-test output directory is writable. Drupal warns that core updates can overwrite a core/phpunit.xml file, so keep project-specific configuration in a location and workflow that you maintain.
  4. Run the intended tests locally. Use the PHPUnit executable and configuration documented for the project. Drupal notes that module or site-module tests may be run from Drupal’s core directory using the vendor PHPUnit executable, depending on layout; confirm the repository’s configuration instead of relying on a universal command.
  5. Check the output, not just the exit status. Read verbose output for skipped tests and confirm that the expected test classes actually ran. A missing database or other environment requirement can lead to tests not running as intended.
  6. Prepare browser tests separately. FunctionalJavascript tests need Chrome or Chromium and a compatible ChromeDriver/WebDriver service. Ensure the browser and driver versions are compatible. Run JavaScript tests through PHPUnit directly as Drupal’s guide prescribes; do not use core/scripts/run-tests.sh for them, since that can give misleading results if ChromeDriver is not running.

Kernel and browser tests need database configuration; browser tests also need Drupal to be reachable through a web server. The running PHPUnit tests guide describes these environment requirements and common skips. Browser setup details are in the FunctionalJavascript guide. Its sample version numbers may be dated, so check current compatibility rather than copying old pins.

Run Drupal tests automatically in CI

For a Drupal.org project, place .gitlab-ci.yml in the repository root. Drupal’s current CI documentation recommends beginning with the Drupal Association-maintained GitLab CI template, then adapting it to the project’s supported test types and environments.

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  1. Start with the maintained template. Use the current template as the baseline instead of building a pipeline from retired DrupalCI instructions.
  2. Declare dependencies. Keep the test dependencies needed by the project in composer.json so CI can install them reproducibly.
  3. Match the matrix to supported environments. Configure PHP, database, and Drupal core environments to reflect what the project supports. Check compatibility for the project’s Drupal core branch and dependencies before pinning versions; there is no single matrix established for every project.
  4. Separate checks by cost and need. Run fast unit checks frequently, and schedule kernel, full functional, or browser-driven coverage where their additional setup and fidelity are justified.
  5. Review configuration files. Inspect .dist files in the repository. GitLab CI may consume configuration that DrupalCI previously ignored, which can change pipeline behavior.
  6. Trigger on relevant changes. Configure jobs for the changes and branches your team needs to validate, and ensure a failed required check is visible to the merge workflow.

Drupal’s GitLab CI guidance was updated on 23 June 2026. DrupalCI-specific workflow guidance is retired; use the current GitLab CI documentation for Drupal.org project automation.

Troubleshoot tests that skip, fail, or miss browser behavior

  • The command succeeds but the expected test did not run: Inspect verbose PHPUnit output for skips and confirm the test path and configuration are the ones intended. Check that required dependencies and environment services are present.
  • Kernel tests fail to initialize: Verify database connection configuration and the extensions/modules needed by the test. A kernel test uses selected Drupal runtime components, not the full site.
  • Functional tests cannot reach the site: Check the configured base URL and that the test environment can serve the Drupal instance. Browser tests require a reachable web server.
  • FunctionalJavascript tests fail to start or behave inconsistently: Confirm Chrome or Chromium is installed, the WebDriver service is running, and its driver matches the browser. Invoke the tests through PHPUnit rather than core/scripts/run-tests.sh.
  • CI behaves differently from local runs: Compare PHP, database, core, and dependency versions, then inspect root-level CI and .dist configuration that GitLab may read.
  • A configuration disappears after a core update: Drupal notes that updates can overwrite core/phpunit.xml; maintain project configuration outside a file that core updates replace.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can PHPUnit alone automate Drupal tests in CI?

Yes. Drupal’s documented test layers use PHPUnit, with additional database, server, or browser-driver services required for the test types that need them.

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Should every Drupal test use a real browser?

No. Use FunctionalJavascript when real JavaScript or browser interaction is under test; otherwise choose a narrower PHPUnit layer.

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