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Tabular Assertions Laravel Package
spatie/tabular-assertions
Write readable “tabular assertions” for Pest or PHPUnit by describing expected data as a Markdown-like table and comparing it to actual arrays/collections. Ideal for ordered datasets like time series, financials, or database rows, with clear diffs.
Write tabular assertions with Pest or PHPUnit
Frequently asked questions about Tabular Assertions
- How do I install spatie/tabular-assertions in a Laravel project?
- Run `composer require spatie/tabular-assertions` in your project root. No additional configuration is needed—it works with Pest by default and requires a single `use` statement for PHPUnit.
- Does this package work with Laravel’s built-in testing helpers like RefreshDatabase?
- Yes. Tabular assertions integrate seamlessly with Laravel’s testing utilities. You can use them alongside `RefreshDatabase`, `actingAs()`, or factories without conflicts.
- Can I use dynamic values (like timestamps or UUIDs) in my tabular assertions?
- Absolutely. Prefix dynamic fields with `#` (e.g., `#id` or `#created_at`) to ignore them during comparison. This works for Eloquent models, API responses, and arrays.
- Will this slow down my test suite if I assert thousands of rows?
- Performance impact is minimal for typical use cases. However, avoid asserting massive datasets (e.g., 10K+ rows) in a single test—split into smaller chunks or use pagination.
- Is spatie/tabular-assertions compatible with Laravel 10 and PHP 8.1+?
- Yes, the package officially supports Laravel 8+ and PHP 8.0+. Always test against your project’s baseline (e.g., Laravel 10) to confirm compatibility.
- How do I migrate from custom assertion logic to tabular assertions?
- Start by replacing nested `foreach` loops or manual array comparisons with `toMatchTable()`. Pilot in 1–2 critical test suites first, then gradually update templates to standardize usage.
- Can I use this for API response testing in Laravel?
- Yes. Tabular assertions work perfectly with API responses. For example, assert paginated JSON data or nested resource collections using the same Markdown table syntax.
- Are there alternatives to spatie/tabular-assertions for Laravel?
- For tabular assertions, alternatives are limited. Custom matchers (e.g., Pest’s `expect()` extensions) or libraries like `laravel-test-helpers` exist but lack the readability and flexibility of this package.
- How do I handle nested relationships (e.g., orders with items and users) in assertions?
- Flatten nested data into a single table or use `toMatchTable()` recursively. For example, assert an order’s items and user data in separate tables or combine them into one.
- Does this package support CI/CD pipelines or parallel testing?
- Yes. Tabular assertions are lightweight and compatible with CI/CD. They don’t introduce dependencies that would conflict with parallel test execution in tools like Laravel Pint or Pest.
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