================ The Mock Class ================ .. currentmodule:: mock .. testsetup:: import os, sys if not os.getcwd() in sys.path: sys.path.append(os.getcwd()) from mock import Mock, sentinel, DEFAULT class SomeClass: pass ``Mock`` is a flexible mock object intended to replace the use of stubs and test doubles throughout your code. Mocks are callable and create attributes as new mocks when you access them [#]_. Accessing the same attribute will always return the same mock. Mocks record how you use them, allowing you to make assertions about what your code has done to them. The :func:`mock.patch` decorators makes it easy to temporarily replace classes in a particular module with a Mock object. .. index:: side_effect .. index:: return_value .. index:: wraps .. index:: name .. index:: spec .. autoclass:: Mock Mock objects that use a class or an instance as a `spec` or `spec_set` are able to pass `isintance` tests: .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock(spec=SomeClass) >>> isinstance(mock, SomeClass) True >>> mock = Mock(spec_set=SomeClass()) >>> isinstance(mock, SomeClass) True Methods ======= .. method:: Mock.assert_called_with(*args, **kwargs) This method is a convenient way of asserting that calls are made in a particular way: .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock() >>> mock.method(1, 2, 3, test='wow') >>> mock.method.assert_called_with(1, 2, 3, test='wow') .. method:: Mock.assert_called_once_with(*args, **kwargs) Assert that the mock was called exactly once and with the specified arguments. .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock(return_value=None) >>> mock('foo', bar='baz') >>> mock.assert_called_once_with('foo', bar='baz') >>> mock('foo', bar='baz') >>> mock.assert_called_once_with('foo', bar='baz') Traceback (most recent call last): ... AssertionError: Expected to be called once. Called 2 times. .. method:: Mock.reset_mock() The reset_mock method resets all the call attributes on a mock object: .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock(return_value=None) >>> mock('hello') >>> mock.called True >>> mock.reset_mock() >>> mock.called False This can be useful where you want to make a series of assertions that reuse the same object. Note that ``reset`` *doesn't* clear the return value, ``side_effect`` or any child attributes. Attributes you have set using normal assignment are also left in place. Child mocks and the return value mock (if any) are reset as well. .. index:: __call__ .. index:: calling Calling ======= Mock objects are callable. The call will return the value set as the :attr:`Mock.return_value` attribute. The default return value is a new Mock object; it is created the first time the return value is accessed (either explicitly or by calling the Mock) - but it is stored and the same one returned each time. Calls made to the object will be recorded in the attributes_. If :attr:`Mock.side_effect` is set then it will be called after the call has been recorded but before any value is returned. Attributes ========== .. attribute:: Mock.called A boolean representing whether or not the mock object has been called: .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock(return_value=None) >>> mock.called False >>> mock() >>> mock.called True .. attribute:: Mock.call_count An integer telling you how many times the mock object has been called: .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock(return_value=None) >>> mock.call_count 0 >>> mock() >>> mock() >>> mock.call_count 2 .. attribute:: Mock.return_value Set this to configure the value returned by calling the mock: .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock() >>> mock.return_value = 'fish' >>> mock() 'fish' The default return value is a mock object and you can configure it in the normal way: .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock() >>> mock.return_value.attribute = sentinel.Attribute >>> mock.return_value() >>> mock.return_value.assert_called_with() `return_value` can also be set in the constructor: .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock(return_value=3) >>> mock.return_value 3 >>> mock() 3 .. attribute:: Mock.side_effect This can either be a function to be called when the mock is called, or an exception (class or instance) to be raised. If you pass in a function it will be called with same arguments as the mock and unless the function returns the :data:`DEFAULT` singleton the call to the mock will then return whatever the function returns. If the function returns :data:`DEFAULT` then the mock will return its normal value (from the :attr:`Mock.return_value`. An example of a mock that raises an exception (to test exception handling of an API): .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock() >>> mock.side_effect = Exception('Boom!') >>> mock() Traceback (most recent call last): ... Exception: Boom! Using ``side_effect`` to return a sequence of values: .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock() >>> results = [1, 2, 3] >>> def side_effect(*args, **kwargs): ... return results.pop() ... >>> mock.side_effect = side_effect >>> mock(), mock(), mock() (3, 2, 1) The `side_effect` function is called with the same arguments as the mock (so it is wise for it to take arbitrary args and keyword arguments) and whatever it returns is used as the return value for the call. The exception is if `side_effect` returns :data:`DEFAULT`, in which case the normal :attr:`Mock.return_value` is used. .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock(return_value=3) >>> def side_effect(*args, **kwargs): ... return DEFAULT ... >>> mock.side_effect = side_effect >>> mock() 3 `side_effect` can be set in the constructor. Here's an example that adds one to the value the mock is called with and returns it: .. doctest:: >>> side_effect = lambda value: value + 1 >>> mock = Mock(side_effect=side_effect) >>> mock(3) 4 >>> mock(-8) -7 .. attribute:: Mock.call_args This is either ``None`` (if the mock hasn't been called), or the arguments that the mock was last called with. This will be in the form of a tuple: the first member is any ordered arguments the mock was called with (or an empty tuple) and the second member is any keyword arguments (or an empty dictionary). .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock(return_value=None) >>> print mock.call_args None >>> mock() >>> mock.call_args ((), {}) >>> mock.call_args == () True >>> mock(3, 4) >>> mock.call_args ((3, 4), {}) >>> mock.call_args == ((3, 4),) True >>> mock(3, 4, 5, key='fish', next='w00t!') >>> mock.call_args ((3, 4, 5), {'key': 'fish', 'next': 'w00t!'}) The tuple is lenient when comparing against tuples with empty elements skipped. This can make tests less verbose: .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock(return_value=None) >>> mock() >>> mock.call_args == () True .. attribute:: Mock.call_args_list This is a list of all the calls made to the mock object in sequence (so the length of the list is the number of times it has been called). Before any calls have been made it is an empty list. Its elements compare "softly" when positional arguments or keyword arguments are skipped: .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock(return_value=None) >>> mock() >>> mock(3, 4) >>> mock(key='fish', next='w00t!') >>> mock.call_args_list [((), {}), ((3, 4), {}), ((), {'key': 'fish', 'next': 'w00t!'})] >>> expected = [(), ((3, 4),), ({'key': 'fish', 'next': 'w00t!'},)] >>> mock.call_args_list == expected True .. attribute:: Mock.method_calls As well as tracking calls to themselves, mocks also track calls to methods and attributes, and *their* methods and attributes: .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock() >>> mock.method() >>> mock.property.method.attribute() >>> mock.method_calls [('method', (), {}), ('property.method.attribute', (), {})] The tuples in method_calls compare equal even if empty positional and keyword arguments are skipped. .. doctest:: >>> mock = Mock() >>> mock.method() >>> mock.method(1, 2) >>> mock.method(a="b") >>> mock.method_calls == [('method',), ('method', (1, 2)), ... ('method', {"a": "b"})] True The ``Mock`` class has support for mocking magic methods. See :ref:`magic methods ` for the full details. ----- .. [#] The only exceptions are magic methods and attributes (those that have leading and trailing double underscores). Mock doesn't create these but instead of raises an ``AttributeError``. This is because the interpreter will often implicitly request these methods, and gets *very* confused to get a new Mock object when it expects a magic method. If you need magic method support see :ref:`magic methods `.