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JUnit 5 - Combining @Tag and @Nested

[Last Updated: Dec 15, 2025]

@Nested classes with @Tag annotations provides a maintainable, organized, and highly configurable tests out applications.

We can group tests related to a specific state or feature within their own inner class.

Example

Using @Tag on nested test classes

package com.logicbig.example;

import org.junit.jupiter.api.Nested;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.Tag;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;

@Tag("integration")
class MyIntegrationTest {

    @Nested
    @Tag("dbTest")
    class MyDbTest {

        @Test
        @Tag("staging")
        void stagingTest() {
            assertEquals(2, 1 + 1);
        }

        @Test
        @Tag("transaction")
        void dbTransactionTest() {
            assertTrue(true);
        }

        @Test
        void dbConnectionTest() {
            assertTrue(true);
        }

    }

    @Nested
    @Tag("calc-test")
    class CalcTest {
        @Test
        void factorialTest() {
            assertTrue(true);
        }

        @Test
        void sumTest() {
            assertTrue(true);
        }
    }
}

Not using any filter

$ mvn test
[INFO] Scanning for projects...
[INFO] 
[INFO] ----------< com.logicbig.example:junit-5-tag-on-nested-class >----------
[INFO] Building junit-5-tag-on-nested-class 1.0-SNAPSHOT
[INFO]   from pom.xml
[INFO] --------------------------------[ jar ]---------------------------------
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- resources:3.3.1:resources (default-resources) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[WARNING] Using platform encoding (Cp1252 actually) to copy filtered resources, i.e. build is platform dependent!
[INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory D:\example-projects\junit-5\junit-5-tagging-and-filtering\junit-5-tag-on-nested-class\src\main\resources
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- compiler:3.11.0:compile (default-compile) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] No sources to compile
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- resources:3.3.1:testResources (default-testResources) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[WARNING] Using platform encoding (Cp1252 actually) to copy filtered resources, i.e. build is platform dependent!
[INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory D:\example-projects\junit-5\junit-5-tagging-and-filtering\junit-5-tag-on-nested-class\src\test\resources
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- compiler:3.11.0:testCompile (default-testCompile) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] Nothing to compile - all classes are up to date
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- surefire:3.5.0:test (default-test) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] Using auto detected provider org.apache.maven.surefire.junitplatform.JUnitPlatformProvider
[INFO] 
[INFO] -------------------------------------------------------
[INFO]  T E S T S
[INFO] -------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] +--com.logicbig.example.ClassLevelTagUsageTest - 0.126 ss
[INFO] |  +-- [OK] sumTest - 0.071 ss
[INFO] |  '-- [OK] primeNumberTest - 0.011 ss
[INFO] +--.--com.logicbig.example.MyIntegrationTest$CalcTest - 0.004 ss
[INFO] |  |  +-- [OK] sumTest - 0.002 ss
[INFO] |  |  '-- [OK] factorialTest - 0.002 ss
[INFO] +-----com.logicbig.example.MyIntegrationTest$MyDbTest - 0.004 ss
[INFO] |     +-- [OK] dbConnectionTest - 0.002 ss
[INFO] |     +-- [OK] dbTransactionTest - 0.002 ss
[INFO] |     '-- [OK] stagingTest - 0 ss
[INFO] 
[INFO] Results:
[INFO] 
[INFO] Tests run: 7, Failures: 0, Errors: 0, Skipped: 0
[INFO] 
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] BUILD SUCCESS
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] Total time:  3.528 s
[INFO] Finished at: 2025-12-15T09:40:24+08:00
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Run only DB-related nested tests

$ mvn test -Dgroups="integration & dbTest"
[INFO] Scanning for projects...
[INFO] 
[INFO] ----------< com.logicbig.example:junit-5-tag-on-nested-class >----------
[INFO] Building junit-5-tag-on-nested-class 1.0-SNAPSHOT
[INFO]   from pom.xml
[INFO] --------------------------------[ jar ]---------------------------------
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- resources:3.3.1:resources (default-resources) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[WARNING] Using platform encoding (Cp1252 actually) to copy filtered resources, i.e. build is platform dependent!
[INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory D:\example-projects\junit-5\junit-5-tagging-and-filtering\junit-5-tag-on-nested-class\src\main\resources
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- compiler:3.11.0:compile (default-compile) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] No sources to compile
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- resources:3.3.1:testResources (default-testResources) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[WARNING] Using platform encoding (Cp1252 actually) to copy filtered resources, i.e. build is platform dependent!
[INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory D:\example-projects\junit-5\junit-5-tagging-and-filtering\junit-5-tag-on-nested-class\src\test\resources
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- compiler:3.11.0:testCompile (default-testCompile) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] Nothing to compile - all classes are up to date
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- surefire:3.5.0:test (default-test) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] Using auto detected provider org.apache.maven.surefire.junitplatform.JUnitPlatformProvider
[INFO] 
[INFO] -------------------------------------------------------
[INFO]  T E S T S
[INFO] -------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] +-----com.logicbig.example.MyIntegrationTest$MyDbTest - 0.085 ss
[INFO] |     +-- [OK] dbConnectionTest - 0.036 ss
[INFO] |     +-- [OK] dbTransactionTest - 0 ss
[INFO] |     '-- [OK] stagingTest - 0.002 ss
[INFO] 
[INFO] Results:
[INFO] 
[INFO] Tests run: 3, Failures: 0, Errors: 0, Skipped: 0
[INFO] 
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] BUILD SUCCESS
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] Total time:  3.153 s
[INFO] Finished at: 2025-12-15T09:40:37+08:00
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Run staging tests within nested DB class

$ mvn test -Dgroups="integration & dbTest & staging"
[INFO] Scanning for projects...
[INFO] 
[INFO] ----------< com.logicbig.example:junit-5-tag-on-nested-class >----------
[INFO] Building junit-5-tag-on-nested-class 1.0-SNAPSHOT
[INFO]   from pom.xml
[INFO] --------------------------------[ jar ]---------------------------------
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- resources:3.3.1:resources (default-resources) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[WARNING] Using platform encoding (Cp1252 actually) to copy filtered resources, i.e. build is platform dependent!
[INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory D:\example-projects\junit-5\junit-5-tagging-and-filtering\junit-5-tag-on-nested-class\src\main\resources
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- compiler:3.11.0:compile (default-compile) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] No sources to compile
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- resources:3.3.1:testResources (default-testResources) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[WARNING] Using platform encoding (Cp1252 actually) to copy filtered resources, i.e. build is platform dependent!
[INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory D:\example-projects\junit-5\junit-5-tagging-and-filtering\junit-5-tag-on-nested-class\src\test\resources
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- compiler:3.11.0:testCompile (default-testCompile) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] Nothing to compile - all classes are up to date
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- surefire:3.5.0:test (default-test) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] Using auto detected provider org.apache.maven.surefire.junitplatform.JUnitPlatformProvider
[INFO] 
[INFO] -------------------------------------------------------
[INFO]  T E S T S
[INFO] -------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] +-----com.logicbig.example.MyIntegrationTest$MyDbTest - 0.124 ss
[INFO] |     '-- [OK] stagingTest - 0.069 ss
[INFO] 
[INFO] Results:
[INFO] 
[INFO] Tests run: 1, Failures: 0, Errors: 0, Skipped: 0
[INFO] 
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] BUILD SUCCESS
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] Total time:  3.101 s
[INFO] Finished at: 2025-12-15T09:40:52+08:00
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Run calculation tests excluding DB tests

$ mvn test -Dgroups="integration & calc-test"
[INFO] Scanning for projects...
[INFO] 
[INFO] ----------< com.logicbig.example:junit-5-tag-on-nested-class >----------
[INFO] Building junit-5-tag-on-nested-class 1.0-SNAPSHOT
[INFO]   from pom.xml
[INFO] --------------------------------[ jar ]---------------------------------
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- resources:3.3.1:resources (default-resources) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[WARNING] Using platform encoding (Cp1252 actually) to copy filtered resources, i.e. build is platform dependent!
[INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory D:\example-projects\junit-5\junit-5-tagging-and-filtering\junit-5-tag-on-nested-class\src\main\resources
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- compiler:3.11.0:compile (default-compile) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] No sources to compile
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- resources:3.3.1:testResources (default-testResources) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[WARNING] Using platform encoding (Cp1252 actually) to copy filtered resources, i.e. build is platform dependent!
[INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory D:\example-projects\junit-5\junit-5-tagging-and-filtering\junit-5-tag-on-nested-class\src\test\resources
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- compiler:3.11.0:testCompile (default-testCompile) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] Nothing to compile - all classes are up to date
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- surefire:3.5.0:test (default-test) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] Using auto detected provider org.apache.maven.surefire.junitplatform.JUnitPlatformProvider
[INFO] 
[INFO] -------------------------------------------------------
[INFO]  T E S T S
[INFO] -------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] +-----com.logicbig.example.MyIntegrationTest$CalcTest - 0.071 ss
[INFO] |     +-- [OK] sumTest - 0.026 ss
[INFO] |     '-- [OK] factorialTest - 0.006 ss
[INFO] 
[INFO] Results:
[INFO] 
[INFO] Tests run: 2, Failures: 0, Errors: 0, Skipped: 0
[INFO] 
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] BUILD SUCCESS
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] Total time:  3.075 s
[INFO] Finished at: 2025-12-15T09:41:01+08:00
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Run only transaction tests in nested DB class

$ mvn test -Dgroups="integration & dbTest & transaction"
[INFO] Scanning for projects...
[INFO] 
[INFO] ----------< com.logicbig.example:junit-5-tag-on-nested-class >----------
[INFO] Building junit-5-tag-on-nested-class 1.0-SNAPSHOT
[INFO]   from pom.xml
[INFO] --------------------------------[ jar ]---------------------------------
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- resources:3.3.1:resources (default-resources) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[WARNING] Using platform encoding (Cp1252 actually) to copy filtered resources, i.e. build is platform dependent!
[INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory D:\example-projects\junit-5\junit-5-tagging-and-filtering\junit-5-tag-on-nested-class\src\main\resources
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- compiler:3.11.0:compile (default-compile) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] No sources to compile
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- resources:3.3.1:testResources (default-testResources) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[WARNING] Using platform encoding (Cp1252 actually) to copy filtered resources, i.e. build is platform dependent!
[INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory D:\example-projects\junit-5\junit-5-tagging-and-filtering\junit-5-tag-on-nested-class\src\test\resources
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- compiler:3.11.0:testCompile (default-testCompile) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] Nothing to compile - all classes are up to date
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- surefire:3.5.0:test (default-test) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] Using auto detected provider org.apache.maven.surefire.junitplatform.JUnitPlatformProvider
[INFO] 
[INFO] -------------------------------------------------------
[INFO]  T E S T S
[INFO] -------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] +-----com.logicbig.example.MyIntegrationTest$MyDbTest - 0.103 ss
[INFO] |     '-- [OK] dbTransactionTest - 0.047 ss
[INFO] 
[INFO] Results:
[INFO] 
[INFO] Tests run: 1, Failures: 0, Errors: 0, Skipped: 0
[INFO] 
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] BUILD SUCCESS
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] Total time:  4.121 s
[INFO] Finished at: 2025-12-15T06:24:09+08:00
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Run all integration tests except calculation tests

$ mvn test -DexcludedGroups=calc-test
[INFO] Scanning for projects...
[INFO] 
[INFO] ----------< com.logicbig.example:junit-5-tag-on-nested-class >----------
[INFO] Building junit-5-tag-on-nested-class 1.0-SNAPSHOT
[INFO]   from pom.xml
[INFO] --------------------------------[ jar ]---------------------------------
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- resources:3.3.1:resources (default-resources) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[WARNING] Using platform encoding (Cp1252 actually) to copy filtered resources, i.e. build is platform dependent!
[INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory D:\example-projects\junit-5\junit-5-tagging-and-filtering\junit-5-tag-on-nested-class\src\main\resources
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- compiler:3.11.0:compile (default-compile) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] No sources to compile
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- resources:3.3.1:testResources (default-testResources) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[WARNING] Using platform encoding (Cp1252 actually) to copy filtered resources, i.e. build is platform dependent!
[INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory D:\example-projects\junit-5\junit-5-tagging-and-filtering\junit-5-tag-on-nested-class\src\test\resources
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- compiler:3.11.0:testCompile (default-testCompile) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] Nothing to compile - all classes are up to date
[INFO] 
[INFO] --- surefire:3.5.0:test (default-test) @ junit-5-tag-on-nested-class ---
[INFO] Using auto detected provider org.apache.maven.surefire.junitplatform.JUnitPlatformProvider
[INFO] 
[INFO] -------------------------------------------------------
[INFO]  T E S T S
[INFO] -------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] +-----com.logicbig.example.MyIntegrationTest$MyDbTest - 0.073 ss
[INFO] |     +-- [OK] dbConnectionTest - 0.030 ss
[INFO] |     +-- [OK] dbTransactionTest - 0.007 ss
[INFO] |     '-- [OK] stagingTest - 0.002 ss
[INFO] 
[INFO] Results:
[INFO] 
[INFO] Tests run: 3, Failures: 0, Errors: 0, Skipped: 0
[INFO] 
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] BUILD SUCCESS
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] Total time:  2.548 s
[INFO] Finished at: 2025-12-15T06:24:14+08:00
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Example Project

Dependencies and Technologies Used:

  • junit-jupiter-engine 6.0.1 (Module "junit-jupiter-engine" of JUnit)
     Version Compatibility: 5.0.0 - 6.0.1Version List
    ×

    Version compatibilities of junit-jupiter-engine with this example:

    • 5.0.0
    • 5.0.1
    • 5.0.2
    • 5.0.3
    • 5.1.0
    • 5.1.1
    • 5.2.0
    • 5.3.0
    • 5.3.1
    • 5.3.2
    • 5.4.0
    • 5.4.1
    • 5.4.2
    • 5.5.0
    • 5.5.1
    • 5.5.2
    • 5.6.0
    • 5.6.1
    • 5.6.2
    • 5.6.3
    • 5.7.0
    • 5.7.1
    • 5.7.2
    • 5.8.0
    • 5.8.1
    • 5.8.2
    • 5.9.0
    • 5.9.1
    • 5.9.2
    • 5.9.3
    • 5.10.0
    • 5.10.1
    • 5.10.2
    • 5.10.3
    • 5.10.4
    • 5.10.5
    • 5.11.0
    • 5.11.1
    • 5.11.2
    • 5.11.3
    • 5.11.4
    • 5.12.0
    • 5.12.1
    • 5.12.2
    • 5.13.0
    • 5.13.1
    • 5.13.2
    • 5.13.3
    • 5.13.4
    • 5.14.0
    • 5.14.1
    • 6.0.0
    • 6.0.1

    Versions in green have been tested.

  • JDK 25
  • Maven 3.9.11
JUnit 5 - Tag Inheritance and Composition Select All Download
  • junit-5-tag-on-nested-class
    • src
      • test
        • java
          • com
            • logicbig
              • example
                • MyIntegrationTest.java

    See Also