Can I write into the console in a unit test? If yes, why doesn't the console window open?

c# .net visual-studio unit-testing console-application
pencilCake picture pencilCake · Jun 26, 2012 · Viewed 168.3k times · Source

I have a test project in Visual Studio. I use Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting.

I add this line in one of my unit tests:

Console.WriteLine("Some foo was very angry with boo");
Console.ReadLine();

When I run the test, the test passes, but the console window is not opened at all.

Is there a way to make the console window available to be interacted via a unit test?

Answer

Tiago Duarte picture Tiago Duarte · Jul 14, 2016

Someone commented about this apparently new functionality in Visual Studio 2013. I wasn't sure what he meant at first, but now that I do, I think it deserves its own answer.

We can use Console.WriteLine normally and the output is displayed, just not in the Output window, but in a new window after we click "Output" in the test details.

Enter image description here

Related questions

Why does visual studio 2012 not find my tests?

I have some tests that use the built in Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting, but can not get them to run. I am using visual studio 2012 ultimate. I have a solution of two projects; One has tests, using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.…

Read More
Visual Studio 2013 doesn't discover unit tests

I have a simple solution in visual studio 2013 that is composed by one web project, one library project and one unit test project. When I open the solution and try to run the unit tests they are not discover by …

Read More
How can I make InternalsVisibleTo attribute work by signing a public token key safely?

I am trying to expose some internals to my unit test project by using: [assembly: InternalsVisibleTo("MyTest")] But I am getting the error: Error 1 Friend assembly reference MyTest' is invalid. Strong-name signed assemblies must specify a public key in their …

Read More