Why is Pytest html report not showing tests in the results table?

3 min read 05-10-2024

Why is Pytest html report not showing tests in the results table?

Why Your Pytest HTML Report Isn't Showing Test Results: A Troubleshooting Guide

Have you ever run your Pytest tests and generated a beautiful HTML report, only to find it mysteriously missing the actual test results? This frustrating situation can leave you scratching your head, wondering where your valuable test data went.

This article will delve into the common reasons why your Pytest HTML report might be showing a blank results table and guide you through troubleshooting steps to get your report back on track.

The Scenario: A Blank Report

Imagine this: you diligently execute your Pytest tests, and the familiar "PASSED" message pops up on your console. Excited to see the detailed report, you open the HTML file, only to be greeted by a stark, empty table. The report header and summary are present, but the heart of the report - the test results - is missing.

Here's an example of what the problematic HTML report might look like:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Pytest Report</title>
  <style> /* ... CSS styles ... */ </style>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Pytest Report</h1>
  <h2>Summary</h2>
  <table class="table">
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th>Total</th>
        <th>Passed</th>
        <th>Failed</th>
        <th>Skipped</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>10</td>
        <td>10</td>
        <td>0</td>
        <td>0</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
  <h2>Results</h2>
  <table class="table">
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th>Name</th>
        <th>Outcome</th>
        <th>Duration</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <!-- Empty Table Body -->
    </tbody>
  </table>
</body>
</html>

This report indicates that all 10 tests passed, but the individual test names and outcomes are not displayed in the "Results" table.

Why is this happening?

The lack of test results in the HTML report is usually caused by one of these factors:

1. Missing or Incorrect Plugin:

The Pytest HTML report generation relies on the pytest-html plugin. If this plugin is not installed or is not configured correctly, the report will not be generated properly.

2. Improper Reporting Configuration:

The pytest-html plugin offers options to customize the reporting behavior. If these options are not set correctly, the report might not include the test results table.

3. Test Execution Errors:

Even though your tests might pass, there could be underlying errors during execution that prevent the plugin from generating the complete report.

Troubleshooting Steps

Now, let's tackle these issues and get those test results back into your report:

1. Install pytest-html:

Make sure you have the pytest-html plugin installed. You can install it using pip:

pip install pytest-html

2. Verify Installation:

After installation, check if the plugin is correctly installed and available by running:

pytest --version

This should list pytest-html among the installed plugins.

3. Configure pytest-html:

If the plugin is installed, ensure you have enabled HTML reporting in your Pytest configuration file (pytest.ini or tox.ini). You can add the following lines:

[pytest]
htmlpath = report.html

This will generate an HTML report named "report.html" in your current working directory.

4. Examine Test Execution:

Review the console output for any errors or warnings during test execution. Even if your tests pass, errors or exceptions during the test run can hinder the HTML report generation.

5. Check Configuration:

If you're using specific pytest-html configuration options, make sure they are set correctly. Consult the pytest-html documentation (https://pypi.org/project/pytest-html/) for detailed configuration information.

6. Update the Plugin:

If you're still encountering issues, try updating the pytest-html plugin to the latest version:

pip install --upgrade pytest-html

7. Debug with pytest --capture=no:

If you're dealing with hidden errors, you can use the pytest --capture=no option to see raw output during test execution, which might provide clues about the issue.

Best Practices for Consistent Reporting

Follow these practices to ensure consistent and reliable HTML reports:

Always Install and Configure pytest-html: Make sure the plugin is always available and correctly configured.
Use Consistent Reporting Options: Set up your pytest-html configuration to generate reports in a standardized format.
Maintain Clean Test Execution: Avoid using print statements excessively during tests, as they can interfere with the HTML report generation.

Additional Resources

Pytest-html Documentation
Pytest Documentation
Stack Overflow - Search for specific issues and solutions

By following these steps and applying best practices, you can troubleshoot your blank Pytest HTML report and get your test results displayed clearly and concisely. Happy testing!