dbtective documentation
Rules
has_unique_tests

has_unique_tests

Rule: has_unique_test

has_unique_test details
This rule ensures that dbt objects (models, sources, etc.) have at least one uniqueness test attached to them. By default, it recognizes the standard unique test and dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns and dbt_expectations.expect_compound_columns_to_be_unique, but can be configured to accept custom uniqueness test names.

Configuration

  • type: Must be has_unique_test.
  • applies_to: (optional) List of dbt object types to include.
    • Default: ["models", "sources"]
    • Options: models, sources, seeds, snapshots
  • allowed_test_names: (optional) List of test names that qualify as uniqueness tests.
    • Default: ["unique", "dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns", "dbt_expectations.expect_compound_columns_to_be_unique"]
    • Accepts any custom test names (e.g., ["unique", "my_custom_unique_test"])
Common Rule Config
  • name: Human-readable name of the rule.
  • severity: "error" (fail) or "warning" (warn only).
    • (optional, defaults to "error" if not specified)
  • description: Human-readable explanation of the rule.
  • category: Override the default rule category. Included in structured output (JSON, CSV, NDJSON) but not in the CLI table. Each rule has a built-in default (e.g. documentation, naming, testing, governance, structure, performance).
    • (optional, defaults to the rule type's built-in category)
  • includes: List of patterns to explicitly include for this rule. See Includes & Excludes for pattern syntax and examples.
  • excludes: List of patterns to explicitly exclude from this rule. See Includes & Excludes for pattern syntax and examples.
  • model_materializations: Filter models by materialization type. Only applies when applies_to includes models.
    • (optional, if not specified all materializations are included)
    • Built-in types: table, view, incremental, ephemeral, materialized_view. Custom materializations are also supported.
    • Example: ["table", "incremental"]

Example Config

manifest_tests:
  - name: "models_should_have_unique_test"
    type: "has_unique_test"
    description: "All models should have a unique test"
    severity: "error"
    applies_to: ["models"]
    # allowed_test_names: ["unique", "dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns"]  (optional)
    # includes: ["path/to/include/*"]  (optional)
    # excludes: ["path/to/exclude/*"]  (optional)

  - name: "sources_should_have_unique_test"
    type: "has_unique_test"
    description: "All sources must have uniqueness validation"
    severity: "warning"
    applies_to: ["sources"]
    allowed_test_names:
      - "unique"
      - "dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns"
      - "my_custom_unique_test"
[[manifest_tests]]
name = "models_should_have_unique_test"
type = "has_unique_test"
description = "All models should have a unique test"
severity = "error"
applies_to = ["models"]
# allowed_test_names = ["unique", "dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns"]  # (optional)
# includes = ["path/to/include/*"]  # (optional)
# excludes = ["path/to/exclude/*"]  # (optional)

[[manifest_tests]]
name = "sources_should_have_unique_test"
type = "has_unique_test"
description = "All sources must have uniqueness validation"
severity = "warning"
applies_to = ["sources"]
allowed_test_names = [
  "unique",
  "dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns",
  "my_custom_unique_test"
]
[[tool.dbtective.manifest_tests]]
name = "models_should_have_unique_test"
type = "has_unique_test"
description = "All models should have a unique test"
severity = "error"
applies_to = ["models"]
# allowed_test_names = ["unique", "dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns"]  # (optional)
# includes = ["path/to/include/*"]  # (optional)
# excludes = ["path/to/exclude/*"]  # (optional)

[[tool.dbtective.manifest_tests]]
name = "sources_should_have_unique_test"
type = "has_unique_test"
description = "All sources must have uniqueness validation"
severity = "warning"
applies_to = ["sources"]
allowed_test_names = [
  "unique",
  "dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns",
  "my_custom_unique_test"
]
Relevant dbt code
models:
  - name: model_with_unique_tests
    tests:
      # dbt_utils built-in uniqueness test
      - dbt_utils.unique_combination_of_columns:
          combination_of_columns:
            - customer_id
            - order_id
    columns:
      - name: customer_id
        tests:
          - unique # dbt built-in uniqueness test
          - my_custom_unique_test # Custom uniqueness test
Rulesis_not_orphaned