What are the differences between integration testing and contract testing?

What are the differences between integration testing and contract testing?

Integration testing focuses on verifying the interactions between different modules or services, ensuring they work together as expected. Contract testing, on the other hand, ensures that the interactions between services adhere to a predefined contract, which specifies the expected inputs and outputs.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! In integration testing, you might test a payment processing module with a user account module to ensure they communicate correctly. In contract testing, you would verify that the payment processing service meets the contract requirements set by the user account service, such as the expected data format.

When should I use contract testing instead of integration testing?

Use contract testing when you have multiple services that interact with each other, especially in microservices architecture. It helps ensure that changes in one service do not break the functionality of another service that depends on it.

Are there any tools you recommend for contract testing?

Yes! Some popular tools for contract testing include Pact, Spring Cloud Contract, and Postman. These tools help automate the process of verifying contracts between services.