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Unit test overrides

When configuring your unit test, you can override the output of macros, project variables, or environment variables for a given unit test.


- name: test_my_model_overrides
model: my_model
given:
- input: ref('my_model_a')
rows:
- {id: 1, a: 1}
- input: ref('my_model_b')
rows:
- {id: 1, b: 2}
- {id: 2, b: 2}
overrides:
macros:
type_numeric: override
invocation_id: 123
vars:
my_test: var_override
env_vars:
MY_TEST: env_var_override
expect:
rows:
- {macro_call: override, var_call: var_override, env_var_call: env_var_override, invocation_id: 123}

Macros

You can override the output of any macro in your unit test defition.

If the model you're unit testing uses these macros, you must override them:

  • is_incremental: If you're unit testing an incremental model, you must explicity set is_incremental to true or false. See more docs on unit testing incremental models here.

unit_tests:
- name: my_unit_test
model: my_incremental_model
overrides:
macros:
# unit test this model in "full refresh" mode
is_incremental: false
...

  • dbt_utils.star: If you're unit testing a model that uses the star macro, you must explicity set star to a list of columns. This is because the star only accepts a relation for the from argument; the unit test mock input data is injected directly into the model SQL, replacing the ref('') or source('') function, causing the star macro to fail unless overidden.

unit_tests:
- name: my_other_unit_test
model: my_model_that_uses_star
overrides:
macros:
# explicity set star to relevant list of columns
dbt_utils.star: col_a,col_b,col_c
...

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