What is Test Driven Development (TDD)?

Test Driven Development (TDD) is a software development approach that emphasizes writing tests before writing the actual code. It follows a cycle of writing a failing test, writing the minimum amount of code required to pass the test, and then refactoring the code to improve its design and maintainability.

In TDD, developers start by writing a test case that defines the desired behavior of a specific piece of code. This test case initially fails since the code does not exist yet. The developer then writes the code necessary to make the test pass, ensuring that the code meets the requirements of the test case. Once the test passes, the developer can refactor the code to improve its structure, readability, and performance without changing its behavior.

TDD promotes a more iterative and incremental development process, where small units of code are continuously tested and improved. It helps in identifying and fixing issues early in the development cycle, reducing the chances of introducing bugs and improving the overall quality of the software. TDD also encourages developers to write modular and loosely coupled code, making it easier to maintain and extend the software in the future.