How do I use mocking in Python tests?

How do I use mocking in Python tests?

Mocking in Python tests allows you to simulate the behavior of complex objects. You can use the unittest.mock module for this.

Can you give me an example of how to mock a function?

Sure! You can use mock.patch to replace a function with a mock. For example:

from unittest.mock import patch

def my_function():
    return 'real value'

@patch('__main__.my_function')
def test_my_function(mock_my_function):
    mock_my_function.return_value = 'mocked value'
    assert my_function() == 'mocked value'

What are some common use cases for mocking?

Common use cases include testing functions that make network calls, accessing databases, or any external dependencies that are not necessary for the test.

Are there any best practices for mocking?

Yes, some best practices include mocking only what you need, keeping your tests isolated, and ensuring that your mocks are as close to the real objects as possible.