diff --git a/pacman/helpers_test.go b/pacman/helpers_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5273186
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pacman/helpers_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+package pacman
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/gogrlx/snack"
+)
+
+func TestFormatTargets_Empty(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Empty(t, formatTargets(nil))
+}
+
+func TestFormatTargets_NamesOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	targets := []snack.Target{
+		{Name: "vim"},
+		{Name: "git"},
+		{Name: "curl"},
+	}
+	got := formatTargets(targets)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"vim", "git", "curl"}, got)
+}
+
+func TestFormatTargets_WithVersions(t *testing.T) {
+	targets := []snack.Target{
+		{Name: "vim", Version: "9.1.0-1"},
+		{Name: "git"},
+		{Name: "curl", Version: "8.7.1-1"},
+	}
+	got := formatTargets(targets)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"vim=9.1.0-1", "git", "curl=8.7.1-1"}, got)
+}
+
+func TestBuildArgs_AllOptions(t *testing.T) {
+	opts := snack.Options{
+		Root:      "/mnt",
+		Sudo:      true,
+		AssumeYes: true,
+		DryRun:    true,
+	}
+	cmd, args := buildArgs([]string{"-S", "pkg"}, opts)
+	assert.Equal(t, "sudo", cmd)
+	// Should have: pacman -r /mnt -S pkg --noconfirm --print
+	assert.Contains(t, args, "pacman")
+	assert.Contains(t, args, "-r")
+	assert.Contains(t, args, "/mnt")
+	assert.Contains(t, args, "--noconfirm")
+	assert.Contains(t, args, "--print")
+}
+
+func TestBuildArgs_NoOptions(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd, args := buildArgs([]string{"-Q"}, snack.Options{})
+	assert.Equal(t, "pacman", cmd)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"-Q"}, args)
+}
+
+func TestBuildArgs_SudoPrependsCommand(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd, args := buildArgs([]string{"-S", "vim"}, snack.Options{Sudo: true})
+	assert.Equal(t, "sudo", cmd)
+	require.True(t, len(args) >= 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "pacman", args[0])
+}
+
+func TestBuildArgs_RootBeforeBaseArgs(t *testing.T) {
+	_, args := buildArgs([]string{"-S", "vim"}, snack.Options{Root: "/alt"})
+	// -r /alt should come before -S vim
+	rIdx := -1
+	sIdx := -1
+	for i, a := range args {
+		if a == "-r" {
+			rIdx = i
+		}
+		if a == "-S" {
+			sIdx = i
+		}
+	}
+	assert.Greater(t, sIdx, rIdx, "root flag should come before base args")
+}
+
+func TestParseUpgrades_Empty(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Empty(t, parseUpgrades(""))
+}
+
+func TestParseUpgrades_Standard(t *testing.T) {
+	input := `linux 6.7.3.arch1-1 -> 6.7.4.arch1-1
+vim 9.0.2-1 -> 9.1.0-1
+`
+	pkgs := parseUpgrades(input)
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 2)
+	assert.Equal(t, "linux", pkgs[0].Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "6.7.4.arch1-1", pkgs[0].Version)
+	assert.True(t, pkgs[0].Installed)
+	assert.Equal(t, "vim", pkgs[1].Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "9.1.0-1", pkgs[1].Version)
+}
+
+func TestParseUpgrades_FallbackFormat(t *testing.T) {
+	// Some versions of pacman might output "pkg newver" without the arrow
+	input := "pkg 2.0\n"
+	pkgs := parseUpgrades(input)
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "pkg", pkgs[0].Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "2.0", pkgs[0].Version)
+}
+
+func TestParseUpgrades_WhitespaceLines(t *testing.T) {
+	input := "\n  \nlinux 6.7.3 -> 6.7.4\n\n"
+	pkgs := parseUpgrades(input)
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 1)
+}
+
+func TestParseGroupPkgSet_Empty(t *testing.T) {
+	set := parseGroupPkgSet("")
+	assert.Empty(t, set)
+}
+
+func TestParseGroupPkgSet_Standard(t *testing.T) {
+	input := `base-devel autoconf
+base-devel automake
+base-devel binutils
+base-devel gcc
+base-devel make
+`
+	set := parseGroupPkgSet(input)
+	assert.Len(t, set, 5)
+	assert.Contains(t, set, "autoconf")
+	assert.Contains(t, set, "automake")
+	assert.Contains(t, set, "binutils")
+	assert.Contains(t, set, "gcc")
+	assert.Contains(t, set, "make")
+}
+
+func TestParseGroupPkgSet_SingleField(t *testing.T) {
+	// Lines with fewer than 2 fields should be skipped
+	input := "orphan\ngroup pkg\n"
+	set := parseGroupPkgSet(input)
+	assert.Len(t, set, 1)
+	assert.Contains(t, set, "pkg")
+}
+
+func TestParseGroupPkgSet_Duplicates(t *testing.T) {
+	input := `group pkg1
+group pkg1
+group pkg2
+`
+	set := parseGroupPkgSet(input)
+	assert.Len(t, set, 2)
+}
+
+func TestNew(t *testing.T) {
+	p := New()
+	assert.NotNil(t, p)
+	assert.Equal(t, "pacman", p.Name())
+}
+
+func TestSupportsDryRun(t *testing.T) {
+	p := New()
+	assert.True(t, p.SupportsDryRun())
+}
diff --git a/pacman/parse_test.go b/pacman/parse_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7fadf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pacman/parse_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+package pacman
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestParseList_Empty(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Empty(t, parseList(""))
+}
+
+func TestParseList_WhitespaceOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Empty(t, parseList("   \n  \n\n"))
+}
+
+func TestParseList_SinglePackage(t *testing.T) {
+	pkgs := parseList("vim 9.1.0-1\n")
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "vim", pkgs[0].Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "9.1.0-1", pkgs[0].Version)
+	assert.True(t, pkgs[0].Installed)
+}
+
+func TestParseList_MalformedLine(t *testing.T) {
+	// Line with only one field should be skipped
+	pkgs := parseList("orphaned-line\nvalid 1.0\n")
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "valid", pkgs[0].Name)
+}
+
+func TestParseList_ExtraFields(t *testing.T) {
+	// Extra fields beyond name+version should be ignored
+	pkgs := parseList("pkg 1.0 extra stuff\n")
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "pkg", pkgs[0].Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "1.0", pkgs[0].Version)
+}
+
+func TestParseList_TrailingNewlines(t *testing.T) {
+	pkgs := parseList("a 1.0\nb 2.0\n\n\n")
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 2)
+}
+
+func TestParseSearch_Empty(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Empty(t, parseSearch(""))
+}
+
+func TestParseSearch_NoDescription(t *testing.T) {
+	// Package line with no following description line
+	pkgs := parseSearch("core/pkg 1.0\n")
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "core", pkgs[0].Repository)
+	assert.Equal(t, "pkg", pkgs[0].Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "1.0", pkgs[0].Version)
+	assert.Empty(t, pkgs[0].Description)
+}
+
+func TestParseSearch_NoRepo(t *testing.T) {
+	// Name without repo/ prefix
+	pkgs := parseSearch("standalone 3.0\n    A standalone package\n")
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 1)
+	assert.Empty(t, pkgs[0].Repository)
+	assert.Equal(t, "standalone", pkgs[0].Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "A standalone package", pkgs[0].Description)
+}
+
+func TestParseSearch_InstalledBrackets(t *testing.T) {
+	pkgs := parseSearch("extra/tmux 3.4-1 [installed]\n    A terminal multiplexer\n")
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 1)
+	assert.True(t, pkgs[0].Installed)
+}
+
+func TestParseSearch_InstalledPartialVersion(t *testing.T) {
+	// [installed: 3.3-1] format
+	pkgs := parseSearch("extra/tmux 3.4-1 [installed: 3.3-1]\n    A terminal multiplexer\n")
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 1)
+	assert.True(t, pkgs[0].Installed)
+}
+
+func TestParseSearch_NotInstalled(t *testing.T) {
+	pkgs := parseSearch("community/rare-pkg 0.1-1\n    Something obscure\n")
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 1)
+	assert.False(t, pkgs[0].Installed)
+}
+
+func TestParseSearch_MultiplePackages(t *testing.T) {
+	input := `core/linux 6.7.4.arch1-1 [installed]
+    The Linux kernel and modules
+extra/linux-lts 6.6.14-1
+    The LTS Linux kernel and modules
+community/linux-zen 6.7.4.zen1-1
+    The Zen Linux kernel
+`
+	pkgs := parseSearch(input)
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 3)
+	assert.Equal(t, "linux", pkgs[0].Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "linux-lts", pkgs[1].Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "linux-zen", pkgs[2].Name)
+}
+
+func TestParseSearch_DescriptionOnlyLines(t *testing.T) {
+	// Lines starting with whitespace without a preceding header should be skipped
+	input := `    orphaned description
+core/valid 1.0
+    Real description
+`
+	pkgs := parseSearch(input)
+	require.Len(t, pkgs, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "valid", pkgs[0].Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "Real description", pkgs[0].Description)
+}
+
+func TestParseInfo_Empty(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Nil(t, parseInfo(""))
+}
+
+func TestParseInfo_NoName(t *testing.T) {
+	// If Name field is missing, returns nil
+	pkg := parseInfo("Version : 1.0\nDescription : Something\n")
+	assert.Nil(t, pkg)
+}
+
+func TestParseInfo_AllFields(t *testing.T) {
+	input := `Repository      : extra
+Name            : neovim
+Version         : 0.10.0-1
+Description     : Fork of Vim aiming to improve user experience
+Architecture    : x86_64
+URL             : https://neovim.io
+`
+	pkg := parseInfo(input)
+	require.NotNil(t, pkg)
+	assert.Equal(t, "neovim", pkg.Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "0.10.0-1", pkg.Version)
+	assert.Equal(t, "Fork of Vim aiming to improve user experience", pkg.Description)
+	assert.Equal(t, "x86_64", pkg.Arch)
+	assert.Equal(t, "extra", pkg.Repository)
+}
+
+func TestParseInfo_ColonInValue(t *testing.T) {
+	// Value itself contains colons — only the first colon should be used as delimiter
+	input := `Name            : pkg
+Description     : A tool: does things: many of them
+Version         : 1.0
+`
+	pkg := parseInfo(input)
+	require.NotNil(t, pkg)
+	assert.Equal(t, "A tool: does things: many of them", pkg.Description)
+}
+
+func TestParseInfo_UnrecognizedKeys(t *testing.T) {
+	input := `Name            : test
+Licenses        : MIT
+Version         : 2.0
+Packager        : Someone
+`
+	pkg := parseInfo(input)
+	require.NotNil(t, pkg)
+	assert.Equal(t, "test", pkg.Name)
+	assert.Equal(t, "2.0", pkg.Version)
+}