# Testpilot Best Practices
Source: https://www.jetify.com/docs/docs/testpilot/best-practices/index

Best practices for writing effective tests. Learn optimization techniques, testing philosophy, and maintainability patterns.

Writing high-quality tests ensures your test suite is reliable, maintainable, and provides meaningful feedback. This section shares best practices and patterns for getting the most out of Testpilot.

## Testpilot's Testing Philosophy

Testpilot uses AI to test applications visually, the way humans do. This means you should write tests like you would describe actions to a person:

* Describe what you want to accomplish, not how to find specific elements
* Start with general instructions and add specificity only when needed
* Let Testpilot handle the visual navigation and element identification

This approach creates tests that are more resilient to UI changes and easier to maintain.

## What You'll Find Here

This section provides guidance on writing effective tests, optimizing test performance, and maintaining your test suite over time.

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="How to Write Effective Tests" icon="check-circle" href="/docs/testpilot/best-practices/write-effective-tests">
    Tips and patterns for creating reliable, maintainable tests.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Key Principles

* **Write for humans first**: Test steps should be readable and understandable
* **Be flexible**: General instructions give Testpilot more flexibility to adapt to UI changes
* **Consolidate steps**: Fewer steps mean faster tests and clearer intent
* **Use context wisely**: Provide additional information only when necessary

## See Also

* [Getting Started](/docs/testpilot/getting-started) - Learn the basics of writing tests
* [Guides](/docs/testpilot/guides) - Practical examples of common testing scenarios
* [Pilotfile Reference](/docs/testpilot/pilotfile-reference) - Complete reference for test file format