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Project: RSpec Rails 2.12

Publisher: RSpec

mock_model

The mock_model method generates a test double that acts like an instance of
ActiveModel. This is different from the stub_model method which generates
an instance of a real model class.

The benefit of mock_model over stub_model is that it is a true double, so
the examples are not dependent on the behavior (or mis-behavior), or even the
existence of any other code. If you're working on a controller spec and you
need a model that doesn't exist, you can pass mock_model a string and the
generated object will act as though its an instance of the class named by
that string.

Scenarios
  1. passing a string that represents a non-existent constant
  2. passing a string that represents an existing constant
  3. passing a class that does not extend ActiveModel::Naming
  4. passing an Active Record constant
  5. passing an Active Record constant with method stubs
  6. mock_model outside rails
passing a string that represents a non-existent constant
Given
a file named "spec/models/car_spec.rb" with: 
require "spec_helper"

describe "mock_model('Car') with no Car constant in existence" do
  it "generates a constant" do
    expect(Object.const_defined?(:Car)).to be_false
    mock_model("Car")
    expect(Object.const_defined?(:Car)).to be_true
  end

  describe "generates an object that ..." do
    it "returns the correct name" do
      car = mock_model("Car")
      expect(car.class.name).to eq("Car")
    end

    it "says it is a Car" do
      car = mock_model("Car")
      expect(car).to be_a(Car)
    end
  end
end
When
I run rspec spec/models/car_spec.rb
Then
the examples should all pass
passing a string that represents an existing constant
Given
a file named "spec/models/widget_spec.rb" with: 
require "spec_helper"

describe Widget do
  it "uses the existing constant" do
    widget = mock_model("Widget")
    expect(widget).to be_a(Widget)
  end
end
When
I run rspec spec/models/widget_spec.rb
Then
the examples should all pass
passing a class that does not extend ActiveModel::Naming
Given
a file named "spec/models/string_spec.rb" with: 
require "spec_helper"

describe String do
  it "raises" do
    expect { mock_model(String) }.to raise_exception
  end
end
When
I run rspec spec/models/string_spec.rb
Then
the examples should all pass
passing an Active Record constant
Given
a file named "spec/models/widget_spec.rb" with: 
require "spec_helper"

describe Widget do
  let(:widget) { mock_model(Widget) }

  it "is valid by default" do
    expect(widget).to be_valid
  end

  it "is not a new record by default" do
    expect(widget).not_to be_new_record
  end

  it "can be converted to a new record" do
    expect(widget.as_new_record).to be_new_record
  end

  it "sets :id to nil upon destroy" do
    widget.destroy
    expect(widget.id).to be_nil
  end
end
When
I run rspec spec/models/widget_spec.rb
Then
the examples should all pass
passing an Active Record constant with method stubs
Given
a file named "spec/models/widget_spec.rb" with: 
require "spec_helper"

describe "mock_model(Widget) with stubs" do
  let(:widget) do
    mock_model Widget, :foo => "bar",
                       :save => true,
                       :update_attributes => false
  end

  it "supports stubs for methods that don't exist in ActiveModel or ActiveRecord" do
    expect(widget.foo).to eq("bar")
  end

  it "supports stubs for methods that do exist" do
    expect(widget.save).to eq(true)
    expect(widget.update_attributes).to be_false
  end

  describe "#errors" do
    context "with update_attributes => false" do
      it "is not empty" do
        expect(widget.errors).not_to be_empty
      end
    end
  end
end
When
I run rspec spec/models/widget_spec.rb
Then
the examples should all pass
mock_model outside rails
Given
a file named "mock_model_outside_rails_spec.rb" with: 
require 'rspec/rails/mocks'

describe "Foo" do
  it "is mockable" do
    foo = mock_model("Foo")
    expect(foo.id).to eq(1001)
    expect(foo.to_param).to eq("1001")
  end
end
When
I run rspec mock_model_outside_rails_spec.rb
Then
the examples should all pass

Last published almost 7 years ago by alindeman.