Definition:
- Occurs when a class or its super classes have fields that are never used by any test method. Often dead fields are inherited. This can indicate a non-optimal inheritance structure, or that the super class conflicts with the single responsibility principle. Also, dead fields within the test class itself can indicate incomplete or deprecated development activities.
References:
Quality attributes
- :octicon:`file-code;1em` - Code Example
- :octicon:`comment-discussion;1em` - Cause and Effect
- :octicon:`graph;1em` - Frequency
- :octicon:`sync;1em` - Refactoring
- Automated Detection of Test Fixture Strategies and Smells :octicon:`comment-discussion;1em` :octicon:`sync;1em`
- Automatic generation of smell-free unit tests :octicon:`comment-discussion;1em`
- Strategies for avoiding text fixture smells during software evolution :octicon:`comment-discussion;1em` :octicon:`graph;1em` :octicon:`sync;1em`
- Test Smell Detection Tools: A Systematic Mapping Study