pytest-unused-fixtures
A pytest plugin to list unused fixtures after a test run.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. This is a low-friction, actively maintained plugin that solves a real test maintenance problem—identifying dead fixture code—with no security concerns and a permissive license. It integrates seamlessly into pytest workflows and is useful for any project that wants to keep its test fixtures clean and intentional.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires pytest to be installed; the plugin only works as a pytest plugin and cannot be used standalone.
- Low friction install as a pure Python wheel with only pytest as a runtime dependency.
- The project is actively maintained with recent releases and a clean commit history.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive; you can use this plugin freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2025-12-23 (234 days) · last repo commit 2026-03-16 · 14 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 317,150 downloads/mo, #7,665 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pytest-unused-fixtures
pytest tests --unused-fixtures
# To fail the test session if unused fixtures are found:
pytest tests --unused-fixtures --unused-fixtures-fail-when-present- Whether the plugin accurately detects fixtures used via dynamic pytest mechanisms beyond simple parameter injection.
- Performance impact when scanning large test suites with many fixtures.
What it is and what it does
pytest-unused-fixtures is a pytest plugin that runs after your tests complete and compares all fixtures available in your test collection against those actually used during the test run. It then reports which fixtures were never invoked, grouped by their definition location. This helps identify dead code in your test fixtures that can be safely removed or refactored.
The plugin requires actual test execution to work accurately because pytest supports dynamic fixture requests that static analysis cannot catch. You enable it by passing the `--unused-fixtures` flag to pytest. It offers several configuration options: you can ignore specific paths, limit the scan to particular directories, mark individual fixtures to skip reporting with a decorator, and optionally fail the test session if unused fixtures are found.
Use it for
- Clean up test fixture cruft by identifying fixtures that were created but never actually used in any test.
- Enforce fixture hygiene in CI/CD by failing the build when unused fixtures are detected, using `--unused-fixtures-fail-when-present`.
- Scope fixture analysis to specific test directories to focus cleanup efforts on particular modules or packages.
- Exclude intentionally unused fixtures (e.g., those reserved for skipped tests) using the `@ignore_unused_fixture` decorator.
- Audit legacy test suites to understand which fixtures are truly active versus which can be removed.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
This is a low-friction, actively maintained plugin that solves a real test maintenance problem—identifying dead fixture code—with no security concerns and a permissive license. It integrates seamlessly into pytest workflows and is useful for any project that wants to keep its test fixtures clean and intentional.
Install
pytest-unused-fixtures on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction install as a pure Python wheel with only pytest as a runtime dependency. The project is actively maintained with recent releases and a clean commit history.
Requires pytest to be installed; the plugin only works as a pytest plugin and cannot be used standalone.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive; you can use this plugin freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install pytest-unused-fixtures
pytest tests --unused-fixtures
# To fail the test session if unused fixtures are found:
pytest tests --unused-fixtures --unused-fixtures-fail-when-presentVerify before relying
- Whether the plugin accurately detects fixtures used via dynamic pytest mechanisms beyond simple parameter injection.
- Performance impact when scanning large test suites with many fixtures.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release <4.0,>=3.9 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagepytest |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 234 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 317,150 / month, #7,665 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaFramework :: PytestIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Software Development :: Testing |
Evidence: pytest_unused_fixtures-0.3.1-py3-none-any.whl
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