Introduction to TestNG @AfterClass Annotation

TestNG is one of the most popular Java testing frameworks used by software developers across the globe. It offers a variety of features that make testing easier, faster and more efficient. One such feature is the use of annotations to manage the test lifecycle.

One of the most commonly used annotations in TestNG is @AfterClass. This annotation is used to specify methods that are to be executed once after running all the test methods in a test class. The @AfterClass annotation is useful for tasks like closing database connections, closing browser sessions, and cleaning up test data.

Syntax

The syntax for using the @AfterClass annotation is as follows:

@AfterClass
public static void afterClassMethod() {
    //Code to be executed after all tests in the class have run
}

The method annotated with @AfterClass must be a static method, which means it can be called without creating an instance of the class.

Example

Let's consider an example to understand how to use the @AfterClass annotation. Suppose we have a test class called "TestExample" that performs some tests on a web application.

public class TestExample {
   
    @BeforeClass
    public static void beforeClassMethod() {
        // Code to be executed before all tests in the class
    }
   
    @Test
    public void testMethod1() {
        // Code to test a particular feature
    }
   
    @Test
    public void testMethod2() {
        // Code to test another feature
    }
   
    @AfterClass
    public static void afterClassMethod() {
        // Code to be executed after all tests in the class have run
    }
}

In the above example, the @BeforeClass annotation is used to specify a method that is to be executed once before running all the test methods in the class. Similarly, the @AfterClass annotation is used to specify a method that is to be executed once after running all the test methods in the class.

Conclusion

The TestNG @AfterClass annotation is a useful feature for executing code after running all the tests in a test class. It allows you to perform tasks like closing database connections, cleaning up test data, and closing browser sessions. So, make sure to use this annotation in your TestNG tests to improve testing efficiency and effectiveness.