Property Based Testing vs Example Based Testing

Developers should learn Property Based Testing when building robust, high-quality software, especially in domains like data processing, financial systems, or compilers where correctness is critical meets developers should use example based testing when working on projects that require clear communication of requirements, such as in agile or bdd environments, to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical team members. Here's our take.

Property Based Testing

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Property Based Testing when building robust, high-quality software, especially in domains like data processing, financial systems, or compilers where correctness is critical

Pros

• It is particularly useful for testing functions with complex input domains, stateful systems, or when you need to ensure invariants hold across many scenarios, as it can reveal subtle bugs and improve test coverage with less manual effort
• Related to: unit-testing, test-driven-development

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Example Based Testing

Developers should use Example Based Testing when working on projects that require clear communication of requirements, such as in agile or BDD environments, to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical team members

Pros

• It is particularly useful for acceptance testing, regression testing of critical workflows, and validating user stories, as it provides executable specifications that serve as living documentation
• Related to: behavior-driven-development, test-driven-development

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Property Based Testing if: You want it is particularly useful for testing functions with complex input domains, stateful systems, or when you need to ensure invariants hold across many scenarios, as it can reveal subtle bugs and improve test coverage with less manual effort and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Example Based Testing if: You prioritize it is particularly useful for acceptance testing, regression testing of critical workflows, and validating user stories, as it provides executable specifications that serve as living documentation over what Property Based Testing offers.

The Bottom Line

Property Based Testing wins

Developers should learn Property Based Testing when building robust, high-quality software, especially in domains like data processing, financial systems, or compilers where correctness is critical