path: root/docs/mock.txt

The Mock Class
==============

.. currentmodule:: mock

.. testsetup::

    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.

:class:`MagicMock` is a subclass of `Mock` with all the magic methods
pre-created and ready to use. There are also non-callable variants, useful
when you are mocking out objects that aren't callable:
:class:`NonCallableMock` and :class:`NonCallableMagicMock`

The :func:`patch` decorators makes it easy to temporarily replace classes
in a particular module with a `Mock` object. By default `patch` will create
a `MagicMock` for you. You can specify an alternative class of `Mock` using
the `new_callable` argument to `patch`.


.. index:: side_effect
.. index:: return_value
.. index:: wraps
.. index:: name
.. index:: spec

.. class:: Mock(spec=None, side_effect=None, return_value=DEFAULT, wraps=None, name=None, spec_set=None, **kwargs)

    Create a new `Mock` object. `Mock` takes several optional arguments
    that specify the behaviour of the Mock object:

    * `spec`: This can be either a list of strings or an existing object (a
      class or instance) that acts as the specification for the mock object. If
      you pass in an object then a list of strings is formed by calling dir on
      the object (excluding unsupported magic attributes and methods). Accessing
      any attribute not in this list will raise an `AttributeError`.

      If `spec` is an object (rather than a list of strings) then
      :attr:`__class__` returns the class of the spec object. This allows mocks
      to pass `isinstance` tests.

    * `spec_set`: A stricter variant of `spec`. If used, attempting to *set*
      or get an attribute on the mock that isn't on the object passed as
      `spec_set` will raise an `AttributeError`.

    * `side_effect`: A function to be called whenever the Mock is called. See
      the :attr:`~Mock.side_effect` attribute. Useful for raising exceptions or
      dynamically changing return values. The function is called with the same
      arguments as the mock, and unless it returns :data:`DEFAULT`, the return
      value of this function is used as the return value.

      Alternatively `side_effect` can be an exception class or instance. In
      this case the exception will be raised when the mock is called.

      If `side_effect` is an iterable then each call to the mock will return
      the next value from the iterable.

      A `side_effect` can be cleared by setting it to `None`:

      .. doctest::

        >>> from mock import Mock
        >>> m = Mock(side_effect=KeyError, return_value=3)
        >>> m()
        Traceback (most recent call last):
         ...
        KeyError
        >>> m.side_effect = None
        >>> m()
        3

    * `return_value`: The value returned when the mock is called. By default
      this is a new Mock (created on first access). See the
      :attr:`return_value` attribute.

    * `wraps`: Item for the mock object to wrap. If `wraps` is not None
      then calling the Mock will pass the call through to the wrapped object
      (returning the real result and ignoring `return_value`). Attribute
      access on the mock will return a Mock object that wraps the corresponding
      attribute of the wrapped object (so attempting to access an attribute that
      doesn't exist will raise an `AttributeError`).

      If the mock has an explicit `return_value` set then calls are not passed
      to the wrapped object and the `return_value` is returned instead.

    * `name`: If the mock has a name then it will be used in the repr of the
      mock. This can be useful for debugging. The name is propagated to child
      mocks.

    Mocks can also be called with arbitrary keyword arguments. These will be
    used to set attributes on the mock after it is created. See the
    :meth:`configure_mock` method for details.


    .. method:: 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 name='mock.method()' id='...'>
            >>> mock.method.assert_called_with(1, 2, 3, test='wow')


    .. method:: 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:: assert_any_call(*args, **kwargs)

        assert the mock has been called with the specified arguments.

        The assert passes if the mock has *ever* been called, unlike
        :meth:`assert_called_with` and :meth:`assert_called_once_with` that
        only pass if the call is the most recent one.

        .. doctest::

            >>> mock = Mock(return_value=None)
            >>> mock(1, 2, arg='thing')
            >>> mock('some', 'thing', 'else')
            >>> mock.assert_any_call(1, 2, arg='thing')


    .. method:: assert_has_calls(calls, any_order=False)

        assert the mock has been called with the specified calls.
        The `mock_calls` list is checked for the calls.

        If `any_order` is False (the default) then the calls must be
        sequential. There can be extra calls before or after the
        specified calls.

        If `any_order` is True then the calls can be in any order, but
        they must all appear in :attr:`mock_calls`.

        .. doctest::

            >>> mock = Mock(return_value=None)
            >>> mock(1)
            >>> mock(2)
            >>> mock(3)
            >>> mock(4)
            >>> calls = [call(2), call(3)]
            >>> mock.assert_has_calls(calls)
            >>> calls = [call(4), call(2), call(3)]
            >>> mock.assert_has_calls(calls, any_order=True)


    .. method:: 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_mock` *doesn't* clear the return
        value, :attr:`side_effect` or any child attributes you have set
        using normal assignment. Child mocks and the return
        value mock (if any) are reset as well.


    .. method:: mock_add_spec(spec, spec_set=False)

        Mock.Add a spec to a mock. `spec` can either be an object or a
        list of strings. Only attributes on the `spec` can be fetched as
        attributes from the mock.

        If `spec_set` is True then only attributes on the spec can be set.


    .. method:: attach_mock(mock, attribute)

        Attach a mock as an attribute of this one, replacing its name and
        parent. Calls to the attached mock will be recorded in the
        :attr:`method_calls` and :attr:`mock_calls` attributes of this one.


    .. method:: configure_mock(**kwargs)

        Set attributes on the mock through keyword arguments.

        Attributes plus return values and side effects can be set on child
        mocks using standard dot notation and unpacking a dictionary in the
        method call:

        .. doctest::

            >>> mock = Mock()
            >>> attrs = {'method.return_value': 3, 'other.side_effect': KeyError}
            >>> mock.configure_mock(**attrs)
            >>> mock.method()
            3
            >>> mock.other()
            Traceback (most recent call last):
              ...
            KeyError

        The same thing can be achieved in the constructor call to mocks:

        .. doctest::

            >>> attrs = {'method.return_value': 3, 'other.side_effect': KeyError}
            >>> mock = Mock(some_attribute='eggs', **attrs)
            >>> mock.some_attribute
            'eggs'
            >>> mock.method()
            3
            >>> mock.other()
            Traceback (most recent call last):
              ...
            KeyError

        `configure_mock` exists to make it easier to do configuration
        after the mock has been created.


    .. method:: __dir__()

        `Mock` objects limit the results of `dir(some_mock)` to useful results.
        For mocks with a `spec` this includes all the permitted attributes
        for the mock.

        See :data:`FILTER_DIR` for what this filtering does, and how to
        switch it off.


    .. method:: _get_child_mock(**kw)

        Create the child mocks for attributes and return value.
        By default child mocks will be the same type as the parent.
        Subclasses of Mock may want to override this to customize the way
        child mocks are made.

        For non-callable mocks the callable variant will be used (rather than
        any custom subclass).


    .. attribute:: 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:: 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:: 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 name='mock()()' id='...'>
            >>> 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:: 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:`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()
            >>> mock.side_effect = [3, 2, 1]
            >>> 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:`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:: 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
            call()
            >>> mock.call_args == ()
            True
            >>> mock(3, 4)
            >>> mock.call_args
            call(3, 4)
            >>> mock.call_args == ((3, 4),)
            True
            >>> mock(3, 4, 5, key='fish', next='w00t!')
            >>> mock.call_args
            call(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:: 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. The
        :data:`call` object can be used for conveniently constructing lists of
        calls to compare with `call_args_list`.

        .. doctest::

            >>> mock = Mock(return_value=None)
            >>> mock()
            >>> mock(3, 4)
            >>> mock(key='fish', next='w00t!')
            >>> mock.call_args_list
            [call(), call(3, 4), call(key='fish', next='w00t!')]
            >>> expected = [(), ((3, 4),), ({'key': 'fish', 'next': 'w00t!'},)]
            >>> mock.call_args_list == expected
            True


    .. attribute:: 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 name='mock.method()' id='...'>
            >>> mock.property.method.attribute()
            <Mock name='mock.property.method.attribute()' id='...'>
            >>> mock.method_calls
            [call.method(), call.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 name='mock.method()' id='...'>
            >>> mock.method(1, 2)
            <Mock name='mock.method()' id='...'>
            >>> mock.method(a="b")
            <Mock name='mock.method()' id='...'>
            >>> mock.method_calls == [('method',), ('method', (1, 2)),
            ... ('method', {"a": "b"})]
            True

    .. attribute:: mock_calls

        `mock_calls` records *all* calls to the mock object, its methods, magic
        methods *and* return value mocks.

        .. doctest::

            >>> mock = MagicMock()
            >>> result = mock(1, 2, 3)
            >>> mock.first(a=3)
            <MagicMock name='mock.first()' id='...'>
            >>> mock.second()
            <MagicMock name='mock.second()' id='...'>
            >>> int(mock)
            1
            >>> result(1)
            <MagicMock name='mock()()' id='...'>
            >>> expected = [call(1, 2, 3), call.first(a=3), call.second(),
            ... call.__int__(), call()(1)]
            >>> mock.mock_calls == expected
            True


    .. attribute:: __class__

        Normally the `__class__` attribute of an object will return its type.
        For a mock object with a `spec` `__class__` returns the spec class
        instead. This allows mock objects to pass `isinstance` tests for the
        object they are replacing / masquerading as:

        .. doctest::

            >>> mock = Mock(spec=3)
            >>> isinstance(mock, int)
            True


.. class:: NonCallableMock(spec=None, wraps=None, name=None, spec_set=None, **kwargs)

    A non-callable version of `Mock`. The constructor parameters have the same
    meaning of `Mock`, with the exception of `return_value` and `side_effect`
    which have no meaning on a non-callable 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

The `Mock` classes have support for mocking magic methods. See :ref:`magic
methods <magic-methods>` for the full details.

The mock classes and the :func:`patch` decorators all take arbitrary keyword
arguments for configuration. For the `patch` decorators the keywords are
passed to the constructor of the mock being created. The keyword arguments
are for configuring attributes of the mock:

.. doctest::

        >>> m = MagicMock(attribute=3, other='fish')
        >>> m.attribute
        3
        >>> m.other
        'fish'

The return value and side effect of child mocks can be set in the same way,
using dotted notation. As you can't use dotted names directly in a call you
have to create a dictionary and unpack it using `**`:

.. doctest::

    >>> attrs = {'method.return_value': 3, 'other.side_effect': KeyError}
    >>> mock = Mock(some_attribute='eggs', **attrs)
    >>> mock.some_attribute
    'eggs'
    >>> mock.method()
    3
    >>> mock.other()
    Traceback (most recent call last):
      ...
    KeyError


.. 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
like :attr:`~Mock.call_args` and :attr:`~Mock.call_args_list`.

If :attr:`~Mock.side_effect` is set then it will be called after the call has
been recorded but before any value is returned.


-----

.. [#] 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 <magic-methods>`.