pytest List view shows parameter as test name instead of the test name

[y2kbugger]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

When discovering parametrized tests, The list view Bolds and moves to the left the value of the param, instead of the name of the test (perhaps with the param value)

[6] y2k-lc3-tools > y2klc3tools > vm_test.py > test_ADD

instead of

test_ADD[6] y2k-lc3-tools > y2klc3tools > vm_test.py

Steps to reproduce:

create an example pytest file

import pytest


@pytest.mark.parametrize(
    "input,expected",
    [
        (6, 7),
        (7, 8),
        (7, 3),
        (8, 9),
        (9, 11),
    ],
)
def test_addone(input, expected):
    assert input + 1 == expected

And just to show it in context with my current project, where I am using a parametrized (sic) fixture to compare two implementations of a VM, it obscures the name of the actual test unless i make the test explorer very wide.

And wanted to share that I have never noticed this before because i normally stick to tree view. But now I am just want to filter on "@failed" and when there are only a few, i'd like to use the list view:

because otherwise it is hard to interpret all the red lines at a glance, e.g. folder vs file, vs test vs parameter. but actually there is only one failing test.

That leads me to think: maybe you should bold the test name in the tree view as well, and leave the rest of the structure as is.

Diagnostic data

Output for Python in the Output panel (View→Output, change the drop-down the upper-right of the Output panel to Python)

XXX

Extension version: 2025.12.0
VS Code version: Code 1.103.2 (6f17636121051a53c88d3e605c491d22af2ba755, 2025-08-20T16:45:34.255Z)
OS version: Linux x64 6.16.5-arch1-1
Modes:

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): 3.12.6
• Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): Venv
• Value of the python.languageServer setting: Default

User Settings

languageServer: "Pylance"

testing
• pytestArgs: "<placeholder>"
• pytestEnabled: true

Installed Extensions

Extension Name	Extension Id	Version
copilot	Git	1.368.0
copilot-chat	Git	0.30.3
debugpy	ms-	2025.10.0
hexeditor	ms-	1.11.1
js-debug	ms-	1.102.0
js-debug-companion	ms-	1.1.3
jupyter	ms-	2025.7.0
jupyter-keymap	ms-	1.1.2
jupyter-renderers	ms-	1.3.0
markdown-table-editor	oct	0.0.6
pdf	tom	1.2.2
python	ms-	2025.12.0
remote-explorer	ms-	0.5.0
remote-server	ms-	1.5.2
ruff	cha	2025.26.0
synthwave-80s-color-theme	san	2.0.0
trailing-spaces	sha	0.4.1
vim	vsc	1.30.1
vscode-js-profile-table	ms-	1.0.10
vscode-jupyter-cell-tags	ms-	0.1.9
vscode-jupyter-slideshow	ms-	0.1.6
vscode-pylance	ms-	2025.7.1
vscode-python-envs	ms-	1.2.0

[eleanorjboyd]

we had it the other way before but got many complaints as it made the name of the parameterized test too long (and the important part of the name hidden in the narrow sidebar). We made a decision to go with this format to reduce repetitiveness and avoid this problem for longer names. Hope this makes sense- thanks!