How do I use mock tools in unit testing?

How do I use mock tools in unit testing?

You can use mock tools like unittest.mock in Python to replace parts of your system under test and make assertions.

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

Sure! You can use @patch decorator to mock a function. For example:

from unittest.mock import patch

@patch('module_name.function_name')
def test_function(mock_function):
    mock_function.return_value = 'mocked value'
    assert function_under_test() == 'expected value'

What are some common use cases for mocking?

Common use cases include mocking external APIs, database calls, or any time you want to isolate the unit of code being tested.

Are there any alternatives to unittest.mock?

Yes, alternatives include libraries like pytest-mock, mockito, and others that provide similar functionality.