Testing Best Practices

Use LazilyRefreshDatabase Over RefreshDatabase

RefreshDatabase migrates once per process and wraps each test in a rolled-back transaction. LazilyRefreshDatabase skips even that first migration if the schema is already up to date.

Use Model Assertions Over Raw Database Assertions

Incorrect: $this->assertDatabaseHas('users', ['id' => $user->id]);

Correct: $this->assertModelExists($user);

More expressive, type-safe, and fails with clearer messages.

Use Factory States and Sequences

Named states make tests self-documenting. Sequences eliminate repetitive setup.

Incorrect: User::factory()->create(['email_verified_at' => null]);

Correct: User::factory()->unverified()->create();

Use Exceptions::fake() to Assert Exception Reporting

Instead of withoutExceptionHandling(), use Exceptions::fake() to assert the correct exception was reported while the request completes normally.

Call Event::fake() After Factory Setup

Model factories rely on model events (e.g., creating to generate UUIDs). Calling Event::fake() before factory calls silences those events, producing broken models.

Incorrect: Event::fake(); $user = User::factory()->create();

Correct: $user = User::factory()->create(); Event::fake();

Use recycle() to Share Relationship Instances Across Factories

Without recycle(), nested factories create separate instances of the same conceptual entity.

Ticket::factory()
    ->recycle(Airline::factory()->create())
    ->create();