How to mock database in flutter - flutter

Question

I tried to mock database to test my local api, i search in official document finding mockito which can work with remote api fine, but also can not work with local database out of box, is there any way to work around of it?

Answer 1

In these cases, you have two options (among many others). Even if my examples assume you're making HTTP calls, it doesn't matter. You can use these strategies regardless the specific use case I'm exposing!
The first one is using the "Strategy pattern" to create an interface for the API and then switch between a test and a production API. Here's a simple example:
abstract class HttpRepository {
const HttpRepository();
Future<Something> sendRequest();
}
You can now create 2 concrete classes: one is for the actual API call and the other is just a mock for tests.
/// Use this in your tests
class MockHttpRepository extends HttpRepository {
const MockHttpRepository();
#override
Future<Something> sendRequest() async {
// Simulating the HTTP call
await Future.delayed(const Duration(seconds: 2));
return Something();
}
}
/// Use this in your Flutter code to make the actual HTTP call or whatever else
class ApiHttpRepository extends HttpRepository {
const ApiHttpRepository();
#override
Future<Something> sendRequest() async {
// Doing a real HTTP call
final response = await makeGetOrPost();
return Something.withData(response);
}
}
In this way, you'll use ApiHttpRepository in your Flutter app and MockHttpRepository in tests. Use const constructors whenever possible.
The other way is using mocks to simulate fake HTTP calls or anything else. Basically, you're using when to "trap" a method call and return a fake response you can control.
// 1. "Enable" mocking on your type
class MockRepo extends Mock implements ApiHttpRepository {}
// 2. Mock methods
const ApiHttpRepository repo = MockRepo();
when(repo.sendRequest()).thenAnswer((_) async => Something());
In this case, we're using thenAnswer because the return type of sendRequest() is of type Future<T>. In your case, if you are reading data from a database you just need to:
Make your class "mockable" using extends Mock implements YourClass
Use when on the mockable instance and control the output
Make sure to use thenAnswer if the method returns a Future<T> and thenReturn in all the other cases.