# How to Test Private Methods?

*Testing private methods. When and how?*

2023-10-20 | `testing` `tdd` `software-design` `clean-code`

> From time to time I have had to face this question: how to test private methods? I have put together in an article the techniques that I usually use.

---

![blog-cover](/images/blog/2023-10-20/cover.jpg)

This is a question that I have encountered with some frequency for a long time. So I thought I would put together my thoughts on the subject here.



## Short answer

Never.

## Long answer

Never ever.

--- 

## What if...?

If you really want to test a private method, consider extracting that private method logic into a separate class, and write a unit test for that class' behavior.
> For this one, I was inspired by Fran Iglesias' [original post](https://franiglesias.github.io/test-private-methods/).