What is the difference between mock and patch in Django?

What is the difference between mock and patch in Django?

In Django testing, 'mock' is used to create a fake object that simulates the behavior of real objects, while 'patch' is used to replace the real object with a mock during a test.

Can you give me an example of how to use mock and patch?

Sure! You can use 'patch' to replace a method in a module with a mock. For example:

from unittest.mock import patch

@patch('myapp.models.MyModel')
def test_my_model(mock_model):
    mock_model.return_value = 'mocked value'
    assert my_function() == 'expected result'

When should I use mock instead of patch?

Use 'mock' when you need to create a standalone mock object, and use 'patch' when you want to temporarily replace an object in a specific scope.

Are there any best practices for using mock and patch?

Yes! Always ensure that your mocks are as specific as possible to avoid false positives in tests, and clean up after tests to prevent side effects.