Should I write more than one assert in a single test? Most of the time the answer is NO. Each test is expressing a single behavior in the Subject Under Test and usually a single assert is enough to state that. However, sometimes we need more than one assert to complete the verification step. So how do I know when are several asserts allowed?
Ask this questions:
Can I write all these asserts before writing a single line of production code (SUT) so that the minimum implementation satisfies all of them?
The minimum implementation that makes the test pass is really considering a single behavior, or you have to think of more than one flow because of the asserts?
If the answer is “YES” to the first question and “YES, it shows a single behavior” then you are allowed to write more than one assert in the same test.
Sometimes methods that returns lists of elements are good candidates for more than one assert. But not always!
Some people write one assert, then make the test pass and add another assert to the same test. In my opinion the second assert belongs in its own test.