Fixtures
Reusable test setup.
Fixtures is a free Web3 & DApp Development Fundamentals lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 4 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Web3 & DApp Development Fundamentals learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
The Setup Problem
Many tests need the same starting state — a deployed contract, funded accounts, initial config. Repeating this setup in every beforeEach is slow and repetitive.
Fixtures solve this by running setup once and snapshotting the result.
What Is loadFixture
Hardhat provides loadFixture in its network helpers. The first time it runs a fixture function and takes an EVM snapshot. Later calls simply revert to that snapshot instead of re-running everything.
This makes tests both fast and perfectly isolated.
Importing the Helper
Import loadFixture from the network helpers package (included in the Toolbox):
const {
loadFixture,
} = require("@nomicfoundation/hardhat-network-helpers");
const { expect } = require("chai");
const { ethers } = require("hardhat");const {
loadFixture,
} = require("@nomicfoundation/hardhat-network-helpers");
const { expect } = require("chai");
const { ethers } = require("hardhat");Writing a Fixture Function
A fixture is an async function that performs setup and returns the objects tests need:
async function deployTokenFixture() {
const [owner, alice] = await ethers.getSigners();
const Token = await ethers.getContractFactory("Token");
const token = await Token.deploy();
return { token, owner, alice };
}async function deployTokenFixture() {
const [owner, alice] = await ethers.getSigners();
const Token = await ethers.getContractFactory("Token");
const token = await Token.deploy();
return { token, owner, alice };
}Using a Fixture in a Test
Call loadFixture at the start of each test and destructure what you need:
it("assigns supply to owner", async function () {
const { token, owner } = await loadFixture(deployTokenFixture);
expect(await token.balanceOf(owner.address))
.to.equal(await token.totalSupply());
});it("assigns supply to owner", async function () {
const { token, owner } = await loadFixture(deployTokenFixture);
expect(await token.balanceOf(owner.address))
.to.equal(await token.totalSupply());
});Why Fixtures Are Fast
Re-running deployment for every test is expensive. With fixtures:
- The setup transactions execute only once.
- Subsequent tests revert the EVM to the snapshot — a near-instant operation.
Large suites can run dramatically faster than equivalent beforeEach setups.
Isolation Guarantee
Because each loadFixture call reverts to the original snapshot, tests cannot leak state into each other. One test transferring tokens does not affect the next test's starting balances.
This isolation is what makes test results reliable and order-independent.
Fixtures with Parameters
loadFixture takes a function reference, not a call, so it cannot accept arguments directly. To vary setup, define multiple fixtures:
async function deployPausedFixture() {
const base = await deployTokenFixture();
await base.token.pause();
return base;
}Each variant gets its own snapshot.
async function deployPausedFixture() {
const base = await deployTokenFixture();
await base.token.pause();
return base;
}Fixtures vs beforeEach
When should you use each?
- loadFixture — preferred for deployment-heavy setup; faster and snapshot-based.
- beforeEach — fine for trivial setup or when you need per-test side effects.
The Hardhat team recommends fixtures for most contract deployment setup.
A Common Pitfall
Do not call the fixture function directly inside loadFixture:
// Wrong: passes the result, not the function
await loadFixture(deployTokenFixture());
// Right: passes the function reference
await loadFixture(deployTokenFixture);Passing the reference lets Hardhat manage the snapshot lifecycle.
// Wrong: passes the result, not the function
await loadFixture(deployTokenFixture());
// Right: passes the function reference
await loadFixture(deployTokenFixture);Sharing Fixtures Across Files
You can move a fixture into its own module and import it wherever needed:
// fixtures.js
module.exports = { deployTokenFixture };
// in a test file
const { deployTokenFixture } = require("./fixtures");
const { token } = await loadFixture(deployTokenFixture);The snapshot caching still works across files in the same run.
// fixtures.js
module.exports = { deployTokenFixture };
// in a test file
const { deployTokenFixture } = require("./fixtures");
const { token } = await loadFixture(deployTokenFixture);Quick Check
Test your understanding of fixtures.
Recap
You learned reusable test setup with fixtures.
loadFixtureruns setup once and snapshots the EVM.- Later calls revert to the snapshot — fast and fully isolated.
- A fixture is an async function returning the objects tests need.
- Pass the function reference, never call it.
- Define multiple fixtures for different starting states.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Fixtures” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Fixtures” is free to read here on the web, and the Web3 & DApp Development Fundamentals course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Web3 & DApp Development Fundamentals course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Fixtures”?
Reusable test setup. You practise Web3 & DApp Development Fundamentals with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Web3 & DApp Development Fundamentals?
No prior experience is required. Web3 & DApp Development Fundamentals on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 4 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Fixtures” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Web3 & DApp Development Fundamentals lesson?
Yes. Every Web3 & DApp Development Fundamentals lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.