Assertions

Assertions are statements in programming that check for conditions expected to be true at a specific point in code execution, typically used for debugging and validation. They help developers catch errors early by verifying assumptions about program state, such as variable values or function outputs, and often cause the program to halt or throw an exception if the condition fails. This concept is widely implemented across many programming languages and testing frameworks to improve code reliability and maintainability.

Also known as: Asserts, Assert statements, Debug assertions, Validation checks, Precondition checks

Why learn Assertions?

Developers should use assertions during development and testing to validate internal logic, preconditions, postconditions, and invariants, which helps identify bugs quickly and ensures code behaves as intended. They are particularly useful in unit testing, debugging complex algorithms, and enforcing contracts in software design, but should be avoided in production code for performance and security reasons, as they can be disabled in many environments.

Learning Resources

• docs: Python Documentation: assert Statement
• docs: MDN Web Docs: Assertions in JavaScript
• tutorial: GeeksforGeeks: Assertions in Java
• docs: C++ Reference: assert
• video: YouTube: Assertions in Programming Explained