Testing with Mock Interface

In some cases, we want to verify the application logic without using a real database. As such, SeaORM provides a MockDatabase interface to be used in development.

For example, we don't want to set up and use a real database for unit testing because the database layer should be independent of the application logic layer. Using a mock interface provides stable and correct behavior in the database layer, hence any errors that emerge can only be due to bugs in the application logic layer.

Also, a real database may not be preferred when we want to maximize the portability of the development environment. Using a mock interface effective takes away the need for setting up and maintaining a real database, therefore application logic developers can do their work virtually anywhere.

Add the mock Cargo feature

// Cargo.toml

...

- sea-orm = { version = "^0.12.0", features = [ ... ] }
+ sea-orm = { version = "^0.12.0", features = [ ... , "mock" ] }

...

Define the expected query results

First, we define what we want our mock database to return.

Note that the function append_query_results() takes a vector of vectors, where each vector nested inside represent the result of a single query.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
let db: &DatabaseConnection = &MockDatabase::new(DatabaseBackend::MySql)
    .append_query_results([
        // First query result
        vec![bakery::Model {
            id: 1,
            name: "Happy Bakery".to_owned(),
            profit_margin: 0.0,
        }],
        // Second query result
        vec![
            bakery::Model {
                id: 1,
                name: "Happy Bakery".to_owned(),
                profit_margin: 0.0,
            },
            bakery::Model {
                id: 2,
                name: "Sad Bakery".to_owned(),
                profit_margin: 100.0,
            },
            bakery::Model {
                id: 3,
                name: "La Boulangerie".to_owned(),
                profit_margin: 17.89,
            },
        ],
    ])
    .append_query_results([
        // Third query result
        vec![
            chef::Model {
                id: 1,
                name: "Jolie".to_owned(),
                contact_details: None,
                bakery_id: 3,
            },
            chef::Model {
                id: 2,
                name: "Charles".to_owned(),
                contact_details: None,
                bakery_id: 3,
            },
            chef::Model {
                id: 3,
                name: "Madeleine".to_owned(),
                contact_details: None,
                bakery_id: 3,
            },
            chef::Model {
                id: 4,
                name: "Frederic".to_owned(),
                contact_details: None,
                bakery_id: 3,
            },
        ]
    ])
    .into_connection();
}

Note: if a query result contains multiple models (like the second and third ones above) and Entity::find().one(db) is called, only the first one will be returned. The rest of the models in the query will be discarded.

Use the returned query results

Then the query results can be mocked and passed to other parts of the application logic.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
let happy_bakery: Option<bakery::Model> = Bakery::find().one(db).await?;
assert_eq!(
    happy_bakery.unwrap(),
    bakery::Model {
        id: 1,
        name: "Happy Bakery".to_owned(),
        profit_margin: 0.0,
    }
);

let all_bakeries: Vec<bakery::Model> = Bakery::find().all(db).await?;
assert_eq!(
    all_bakeries,
    vec![
        bakery::Model {
            id: 1,
            name: "Happy Bakery".to_owned(),
            profit_margin: 0.0,
        },
        bakery::Model {
            id: 2,
            name: "Sad Bakery".to_owned(),
            profit_margin: 100.0,
        },
        bakery::Model {
            id: 3,
            name: "La Boulangerie".to_owned(),
            profit_margin: 17.89,
        },
    ]
);

let la_boulangerie_chefs: Vec<chef::Model> = Chef::find().all(db).await?;
assert_eq!(
    la_boulangerie_chefs,
    vec![
        chef::Model {
            id: 1,
            name: "Jolie".to_owned(),
            contact_details: None,
            bakery_id: 3,
        },
        chef::Model {
            id: 2,
            name: "Charles".to_owned(),
            contact_details: None,
            bakery_id: 3,
        },
        chef::Model {
            id: 3,
            name: "Madeleine".to_owned(),
            contact_details: None,
            bakery_id: 3,
        },
        chef::Model {
            id: 4,
            name: "Frederic".to_owned(),
            contact_details: None,
            bakery_id: 3,
        },
    ]
);
}

Mock execution results

To mock the results of CRUD operations, we can use append_exec_results().

As it is highly similar to the above, it won't be covered in detail in this tutorial. For more information, refer to the documentation.