How do you write integration tests for ASP.NET Core?
PICTURE THIS: A REST CALL
Simple meaning
WebApplicationFactory hosts the app in memory with a test server.
WHY — Testing instead of guessing?
Why interviewers care about Testing:
question about Testing.
trade-offs, and what you would actually do on a .NET project - not buzzwords.
Name the idea, why it exists, then one short example.
End with when you use it and one common pitfall.
STEPS — What happens step by step?
Before you speak the answer, walk the interviewer through these steps:
- 1WebApplicationFactory hosts the app
in memory with a test server.
- 2I replace DbContext with
a test database and hit HTTP endpoints.
- 3It catches wiring bugs
unit tests miss.
- 4Give an example
One tiny concrete case you can say aloud.
- 5Common mistake
What juniors usually get wrong.
- 6Close
When you pick this over the alternative.
EXAMPLE — See it in action
Here's a short line you can speak, broken into clear beats:
Note: Adapt this scaffold to your own project — keep it under 60–90 seconds.
Key takeaway
WebApplicationFactory hosts the app in memory with a test server. I replace DbContext with a test database and hit HTTP endpoints.