test-driven-development

Test-driven development prevents bugs by enforcing the Red-Green-Refactor cycle. You write a failing test that defines expected behavior, implement minimal code to pass it, and then refactor to ensure quality and prevent regressions from the start.

The Red-Green-Refactor cycle is a test-driven development workflow. You first write a failing test (Red), create minimal implementation code to make it pass (Green), and then refactor the codebase to improve structure while maintaining passing tests.

Use test-driven development when refactoring to ensure code quality and prevent regressions. You write tests that document current behavior before making changes, ensuring the refactored code continues to pass predefined tests throughout the modification process.

Yes, test-driven development applies to all software development tasks including new features, bug fixes, and refactoring. It requires tests to be written before implementation code, ensuring behavior is documented and regressions are caught early across all development workflows.

Writing tests first improves code quality by defining expected behavior before implementation. This TDD approach catches errors early, prevents regressions, and acts as living documentation, ensuring the implementation meets the predefined requirements from the start.