---
title: TestNG Groups
description: "**TestNG Groups**** ** **What Are TestNG Groups?** TestNG groups allow you to categorize test methods into logical collections and then selectively run or skip them. You assign a method to one or more groups via the groups attribute on @Test: ```javascript…"
url: "https://vinothqaacademy.com/docs/testng-groups/"
updated: "2025-09-16"
category: TestNG Framework
tags:
  - Testng Framework
---

# TestNG Groups

**TestNG Groups**** **

**What Are TestNG Groups?**

TestNG groups allow you to categorize test methods into logical collections and then selectively run or skip them. You assign a method to one or more groups via the groups attribute on @Test:

```javascript

                @Test(groups = {"smoke"})
public void smokeTest() { … }

@Test(groups = {"regression","fast"})
public void fastRegressionTest() { … }
```

**Group of Groups (Meta-Groups)**

Sometimes you want to treat several groups as a single unit. TestNG lets you **define** a “meta-group” in testng.xml that aggregates other groups:

```xml

                <groups>

  <!-- Define a meta-group named “allTests” -->

  <define name="allTests">

    <include name="smoke"/>

    <include name="regression"/>

  </define>

  <run>

    <!-- Run everything in “allTests” -->

    <include name="allTests"/>

  </run>

</groups>
```

Here, allTests will encompass both smoke and regression methods 

**Including and Excluding Groups**

Within your <test> in testng.xml, you can specify exactly which groups to run or skip:

```xml

                <suite name="SuiteWithGroups">

  <test name="SelectiveTests">

    <groups>

      <run>

        <!-- Only run smoke tests -->

        <include name="smoke"/>

        <!-- Skip any slow tests -->

        <exclude name="slow"/>

      </run>

    </groups>

    <classes>

      <class name="com.example.tests.MyTests"/>

    </classes>

  </test>

</suite>
```

- <include> — only these groups run
- <exclude> — these groups are skipped

**Regular Expressions and TestNG Groups**

TestNG also supports regex patterns in your <include> or <exclude> names, enabling wildcard selections:

```xml

                <groups>

  <run>

    <!-- Include any group whose name starts with “reg” -->

    <include name="reg.*"/>

    <!-- Exclude any group ending in “_beta” -->

    <exclude name=".*_beta"/>

  </run>

</groups>
```

This runs all groups like regression, regioTest, etc., while skipping v2_beta, feature_beta, and so on.

**Putting It All Together**

A full testng.xml combining these features might look like:

```xml

                <!DOCTYPE suite SYSTEM "https://testng.org/testng-1.0.dtd">

<suite name="AdvancedGroupSuite">

  <parameter name="env" value="staging"/>

  <test name="GroupedRun">

    <groups>

      <define name="coreTests">

        <include name="smoke"/>

        <include name="fast.*"/>

      </define>

      <run>

        <include name="coreTests"/>

        <exclude name=".*_deprecated"/>

      </run>

    </groups>

    <classes>

      <class name="com.example.tests.MyTests"/>

    </classes>

  </test>

</suite>
```

**With this you get:**

1. **Meta-grouping** (via <define>) to bundle related groups

2. **Selective execution** (via <include>/<exclude>)

3. **Pattern matching** (via regex) for flexible group names

Together, these capabilities give you powerful, maintainable control over exactly which tests run in each scenario.