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title Integration testing concepts
description Learn about integration testing in Flutter.
shortTitle Introduction

Unit tests and widget tests validate individual classes, functions, or widgets. They don't validate how individual pieces work together in whole or capture the performance of an app running on a real device. To perform these tasks, use integration tests.

Integration tests verify the behavior of the complete app. This test can also be called end-to-end testing or GUI testing.

Testing frameworks

Flutter supports two main approaches for integration testing:

integration_test package

The Flutter SDK includes the integration_test package. Tests written with integration_test can perform the following tasks:

  • Run on the target device. To test multiple Android or iOS devices, use Firebase Test Lab.
  • Run from the host machine with flutter test integration_test.
  • Use flutter_test APIs. This makes integration tests similar to writing widget tests.

However, integration_test can't interact with native platform UI, such as permission dialogs, notifications, or the contents of platform views.

patrol package

Patrol is an open-source testing framework that builds on top of Flutter's testing capabilities. It extends integration_test with native interaction support. Patrol lets you:

  • Interact with native platform UI, such as permission dialogs, notifications, and WebViews.
  • Access device-level features like toggling Wi-Fi or adjusting system settings.
  • Write more concise tests using patrol finders.

To learn more, visit the Patrol documentation.

Terminology

host machine : The system on which you develop your app, like a desktop computer.

target device : The mobile device, browser, or desktop application that runs your Flutter app.

If you run your app in a web browser or as a desktop application, the host machine and the target device are the same.

Getting started

To use integration_test, add it as a dependency for your Flutter app test file.

To migrate existing projects that use flutter_driver, consult the Migrating from flutter_driver guide.

To use Patrol, follow the Patrol setup guide.

Use cases for integration testing

The other guides in this section explain how to use integration tests to validate functionality and performance.