What are the best practices for using mocks in testing?

What are the best practices for using mocks in testing?

When using mocks in testing, it's important to ensure that they accurately represent the behavior of the real objects. This includes defining clear expectations and using them to verify interactions.

Can you give me an example of when to use mocks?

Sure! Mocks are particularly useful when you want to isolate the unit of code being tested from its dependencies, such as when testing a function that makes API calls.

How do I decide what to mock?

You should mock external services, complex objects, or anything that introduces variability in your tests. Focus on dependencies that are not under your control.

What are the risks of overusing mocks?

Overusing mocks can lead to tests that are too tightly coupled to the implementation details, making them fragile and harder to maintain.

Any tools you recommend for mocking?

Yes! Popular tools include Mockito for Java, unittest.mock for Python, and Jest for JavaScript. They provide great support for creating and managing mocks.