Is there a way to specify which pytest tests to run from a file?

Question

Is there a way to select pytest tests to run from a file? For example, a file foo.txt containing a list of tests to be executed:

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Answer 1

My answer provides a ways to run a subset of test in different scenarios.

Run all tests in a project

pytest

Run tests in a Single Directory

To run all the tests from one directory, use the directory as a parameter to pytest:

pytest tests/my-directory

Run tests in a Single Test File/Module

To run a file full of tests, list the file with the relative path as a parameter to pytest:

pytest tests/my-directory/test_demo.py

Run a Single Test Function

To run a single test function, add :: and the test function name:

pytest -v tests/my-directory/test_demo.py::test_specific_function

-v is used so you can see which function was run.

Run a Single Test Class

To run just a class, do like we did with functions and add ::, then the class name to the file parameter:

pytest -v tests/my-directory/test_demo.py::TestClassName

Run a Single Test Method of a Test Class

If you don't want to run all of a test class, just one method, just add another :: and the method name:

pytest -v tests/my-directory/test_demo.py::TestClassName::test_specific_method

Run a Set of Tests Based on Test Name

The -k option enables you to pass in an expression to run tests that have certain names specified by the expression as a substring of the test name. It is possible to use and, or, and not to create complex expressions.

For example, to run all of the functions that have _raises in their name:

pytest -v -k _raises