MSTest

Spec sheet

Purpose

MSTest is a Microsoft-supported, open-source, cross-platform test framework for writing and running tests for .NET applications.Read 4 Oct 2026 · learn.microsoft.com

AOT limit

Native AOT is supported with a limited feature set because of reduced reflection capabilities.Read 4 Oct 2026 · learn.microsoft.com

Data-driven tests

MSTest supports multiple test inputs through DataRow, CombinatorialData, DynamicData, and external data sources.Read 4 Oct 2026 · learn.microsoft.com

Execution engines

MSTest supports VSTest and Microsoft.Testing.Platform, with Microsoft.Testing.Platform recommended for new projects.Read 4 Oct 2026 · learn.microsoft.com

IDE and CI options

Tests can be run from Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, JetBrains Rider, the command line, GitHub Actions, or Azure DevOps.Read 4 Oct 2026 · learn.microsoft.com

Package setup

The MSTest NuGet meta-package simplifies referencing the recommended MSTest packages.Read 4 Oct 2026 · nuget.org

Security and updates

The MSTest team encourages users to update to the latest version for improvements and security patches.Read 4 Oct 2026 · learn.microsoft.com

Support policy

Microsoft supports only the latest released MSTest version; preview releases are offered for public testing but are not supported.Read 4 Oct 2026 · learn.microsoft.com

Supported targets

Documented targets include .NET 8 and later, .NET Framework 4.6.2 and later, UWP, WinUI 3, Native AOT, and .NET 10 browser and WASI WebAssembly hosts, with feature differences by target.Read 4 Oct 2026 · learn.microsoft.com

Test controls

Features include setup and cleanup lifecycle hooks, parallel execution, test categorization and filtering, analyzers, and assertion methods.Read 4 Oct 2026 · learn.microsoft.com

Test integrations

It integrates with Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code Test Explorers, the .NET CLI, and CI pipelines.Read 4 Oct 2026 · learn.microsoft.com

UI testing limit

Windows desktop UI automation is documented for .NET 8+ Windows targets, while UWP and WinUI 3 UI tests require UI-thread access.Read 4 Oct 2026 · learn.microsoft.com

WebAssembly limit

On single-threaded WebAssembly runtimes, MSTest cannot forcibly interrupt timed-out tests, and debugger wait is unsupported.Read 4 Oct 2026 · learn.microsoft.com

Plans and prices

Every MSTest plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• Unit Testing#18 of 327.6
• Unit Testing Frameworks#23 of 327.6