# catchorg/Catch2

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20,198 stars · 3,200 forks · C++ · bsl-1.0

## Links

- GitHub: https://github.com/catchorg/Catch2
- Homepage: https://discord.gg/4CWS9zD
- awesome-repositories: https://awesome-repositories.com/repository/catchorg-catch2.md

## Topics

`bdd` `cpp` `cpp14` `framework` `no-dependencies` `tdd` `test-framework` `testing`

## Description

Catch2 is a comprehensive framework for C++ software validation, providing an environment for unit testing, integration verification, and performance analysis. It enables developers to define and execute automated test suites and micro-benchmarks directly within their applications.

The framework is distinguished by its header-only distribution, which allows for integration into existing build systems without requiring complex external dependencies. It utilizes a hierarchical section-based execution model that supports behavior-driven testing, allowing for shared setup and teardown logic across nested test scenarios. Additionally, the library employs an expression-decomposition assertion system that breaks down complex boolean expressions to report specific sub-expression values upon failure.

The project covers a broad range of validation capabilities, including automated regression testing and granular unit testing of individual functions. It also provides tools for measuring execution duration across varying hardware and compiler configurations to identify performance bottlenecks. The library is designed for simple inclusion, with test registration handled through static macros that collect function pointers at compile time.

## Tags

### Testing & Quality Assurance

- [Unit Testing Frameworks](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/testing-quality-assurance/unit-testing-frameworks.md) — Acts as a comprehensive environment for defining and executing automated unit tests, integration tests, and micro-benchmarks.
- [Software Testing](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/testing-quality-assurance/software-testing.md) — Provides a structured framework for running repeatable automated test suites to catch regressions.
- [Behavior-Driven Testing](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/testing-quality-assurance/testing-best-practices-methodologies/quality-assurance-practices/testing-methodologies/behavior-driven-testing.md) — Supports behavior-driven testing to structure complex test suites into readable, hierarchical scenarios. ([source](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/catchorg/Catch2@devel/README.md))

### Development Tools & Productivity

- [Header-Only Libraries](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/development-tools-productivity/header-only-libraries.md) — Offers a lightweight testing framework designed for simple integration into existing build systems without external dependencies.
- [Performance Benchmarking](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/development-tools-productivity/performance-benchmarking.md) — Provides a performance analysis utility that measures execution speed by running specific code segments repeatedly.

### Data & Databases

- [Integration Testing](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/data-databases/data-processing-pipelines/data-serialization/json-libraries/c/integration-testing.md) — Verifies that multiple components or modules within a C++ project work together as expected.
- [Micro-Benchmarking](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/data-databases/data-processing-pipelines/data-serialization/json-libraries/c/micro-benchmarking.md) — Measures execution time and performance characteristics of specific C++ code segments to identify bottlenecks.

### DevOps & Infrastructure

- [Header-Only Libraries](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/devops-infrastructure/distribution-packaging/software-distribution/header-only-libraries.md) — Distributes the entire framework as header-only source files to eliminate complex build system dependencies.

### Programming Languages & Runtimes

- [Assertion Decomposition](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/programming-languages-runtimes/expression-sequencing/assertion-decomposition.md) — Provides an expression-decomposition assertion system that reports specific sub-expression values upon failure.

### User Interface & Experience

- [Test Sectioning](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/custom-header-components/section-headers/test-sectioning.md) — Utilizes a hierarchical section-based execution model for shared setup and teardown logic across nested test scenarios.