[Feature Request] Enforce @IsTest(testFor) annotation on Apex test classes

[bhavish030]

Product Area

A Rule

Your Need or Problem

When working Apex test classes, there is no automated way to enforce that developers specify the testFor property on the @IsTest annotation (e.g., @IsTest(testFor='ApexClass:MyService')).

The testFor parameter was introduced to explicitly link a test class to the class it covers, improving traceability, code coverage mapping, and maintainability.

Your Desired Solution

Add a new PMD rule under the bestpractices category that:

Triggers when an Apex class is annotated with @IsTest (or @isTest) at the class level but does not include the testFor property.
Passes when @IsTest(testFor='ApexClass:ClassName') (or any valid testFor value) is present.
Has a configurable severity (defaulting to Warning/Moderate).

Alternatives Considered

No response

Additional Context (Screenshots, Files, etc)

Example of violation:

@IsTest          // ← missing testFor
public class MyServiceTest { ... }

Example passing:

@IsTest(testFor='ApexClass:MyService')
public class MyServiceTest { ... }

### Workaround

_No response_

### Urgency

Low

[namrata111f]

@bhavish030 for PMD we have option to add custom rules using:

 pmd:
    custom_rulesets:
      - "pmd-with-file-suppression.xml"

You can write your own custom rule and add it for this requirement. Let me know if any help is needed in framing the custom rule from us. Code Analyzer does not adds custom rules on top pf PMD engine.

[dschach]

@bhavish030 PMD standard rules are governed by PMD itself; you can request that rule over there, though I doubt they would make it a standard rule since there's technically nothing wrong with not having the testfor annotation modifier. But as is said above, you can use the PMD designer to create such a rule using xpath. If you do figure it out, post it here so we can all use it!

[dschach]

@bhavish030 Here is your XPath PMD rule:

/ApexFile/UserClass/ModifierNode/Annotation[@Image="IsTest" and count(AnnotationParameter[@Name="testFor"])=0]