What is fixtures?

In software testing, 'fixtures' refer to a fixed state or baseline used for running tests in a consistent and repeatable manner. Fixtures set up the environment, data, or objects needed to execute a test case. This ensures that each test starts from a known good state, isolating the functionality being tested and preventing dependencies on previous test runs or external factors. Common examples include loading a database with specific test data, creating mock objects, or setting up configuration files. Different testing frameworks provide various mechanisms for defining and managing fixtures.