---
name: "Test2::Workflow"
section: "3perl"
platform: "linux"
package: "perl"
version: "5.44.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Test2::Workflow/3perl"
---

# Test2::Workflow(3perl)

A test workflow is a way of structuring tests using composable units.

## NAME

Test2::Workflow - A test workflow is a way of structuring tests using composable units.

## DESCRIPTION

A test workflow is a way of structuring tests using composable units. A well known example of a test workflow is RSPEC \<http://rspec.info/\>. RSPEC is implemented using Test2::Workflow in Test2::Tools::Spec along with several extensions.

## IMPORTANT CONCEPTS

### BUILD

Test2::Workflow::Build

A Build is used to compose tasks. Usually a build object is pushed to the stack before running code that adds tasks to the build. Once the build sub is complete the build is popped and returned. Usually a build is converted into a root task or task group.

### RUNNER

Test2::Workflow::Runner

A runner takes the composed tasks and executes them in the proper order.

### TASK

Test2::Workflow::Task

A task is a unit of work to accomplish. There are 2 main types of task.

*ACTION*

An action is the most simple unit used in composition. An action is essentially a name and a codeblock to run.

*GROUP*

A group is a task that is composed of other tasks.

## EXPORTS

All exports are optional, you must request the ones you want.

- $parsed = parse\_args(args =\> \\@args)

  - $parsed = parse\_args(args =\> \\@args, level =\> $L)

  - $parsed = parse\_args(args =\> \\@args, caller =\> \[caller($L)\])

  This will parse a "typical" task builders arguments. The `@args` array MUST contain a name (plain scalar containing text) and also a single CODE reference. The `@args` array MAY also contain any quantity of line numbers or hashrefs. The resulting data structure will be a single hashref with all the provided hashrefs squashed together, and the 'name', 'code', 'lines' and 'frame' keys set from other arguments.

  ```
      {
          # All hashrefs from @args get squashed together:
          %squashed_input_hashref_data,
          # @args must have exactly 1 plaintext scalar that is not a number, it
          # is considered the name:
          name => 'name from input args'
          # Integer values are treated as line numbers
          lines => [ 35, 44 ],
          # Exactly 1 coderef must be provided in @args:
          code => \&some_code,
          # 'frame' contains the 'caller' data. This may be passed in directly,
          # obtained from the 'level' parameter, or automatically deduced.
          frame => ['A::Package', 'a_file.pm', 42, ...],
      }
  ```

- $build = init\_root($pkg, %args)

  This will initialize (or return the existing) a build for the specified package. `%args` get passed into the Test2::Workflow::Build constructor. This uses the following defaults (which can be overridden using `%args`):

  ```
      name    => $pkg,
      flat    => 1,
      iso     => 0,
      async   => 0,
      is_root => 1,
  ```

  Note that `%args` is completely ignored if the package build has already been initialized.

- $build = root\_build($pkg)

  This will return the root build for the specified package.

- $build = **current\_build()**

  This will return the build currently at the top of the build stack (or undef).

- $build = build($name, \\%params, sub { ... })

  This will push a new build object onto the build stash then run the provided codeblock. Once the codeblock has finished running the build will be popped off the stack and returned.

  See `parse_args()` for details about argument processing.

## SEE ALSO

- Test2::Tools::Spec

  Test2::Tools::Spec is an implementation of RSPEC using this library.

## SOURCE

The source code repository for Test2-Workflow can be found at *https://github.com/Test-More/test-more/*.

## MAINTAINERS

- Chad Granum \<exodist@cpan.org\>

  ## AUTHORS

- Chad Granum \<exodist@cpan.org\>

  ## COPYRIGHT

Copyright Chad Granum \<exodist7@gmail.com\>.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.

See *http://dev.perl.org/licenses/*