> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cover-docs.diffblue.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cover-docs.diffblue.com/features/cover-cli/writing-tests/test-formatting.md).

# Test formatting

Use the `--output-comments=<value>` argument to select basic formatting options for tests written by Cover CLI (define the use of the `// Arrange`, `// Act`, and `// Assert` sections and comments).

**Usage:** `--output-comments=<value>`

**Example:** `--output-comments=false`

**Default:** `true`

### Brief

Using `--output-comments=false`, Cover CLI will create tests in a more condensed format - the `// Arrange`, `// Act`, and `// Assert` comments are removed and the sections are inlined:

```java
  @Test
  public void testHasItem() {
    assertFalse((new Order()).hasItem());
  }
```

### Standard

Using `--output-comments=true` (or not specifying the argument at all), the `Arrange`, `Act`, and `Assert` sections will be labelled, but may still be combined together by inlining if they're small, for example:

```java
@Test
public void testHasItem() throws Exception {
  // Arrange and Act
  boolean actual = (new Order()).hasItem();

  // Assert
  assertEquals(false, actual);
}
```