What is the difference between mocking and stubbing in testing?

What is the difference between mocking and stubbing in testing?

Mocking and stubbing are both techniques used in unit testing to isolate components. Stubbing is used to provide predefined responses to method calls, while mocking involves creating a fake object that verifies interactions.

Can you give me an example of when to use a stub?

Sure! You might use a stub when you want to simulate a database call that returns a fixed result without actually hitting the database.

And when would I use a mock instead?

You would use a mock when you need to verify that a certain method was called with specific parameters, ensuring that your code interacts correctly with dependencies.

Are there any libraries that can help with mocking and stubbing?

Yes, popular libraries include Mockito for Java, Moq for .NET, and Sinon for JavaScript. They provide easy-to-use APIs for creating mocks and stubs.