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c++unit-testingprivate-methods

Unit testing of private methods in C++

I am in the process of writing some unit tests. In particular I want to test some private methods.

So far the I have come up with using.

#define private public

But I am not happy with this as it will destroy all encapsulation from the point of view of the unit test.

What methods do you use to unit-test private methods.

Solution

  • If the methods are complex enough to warrant testing in isolation, then refactor them into their own class(es) and test via their public interface(s). Then use them privately in the original class.