Mock same method with different return value

Question

I want to patch get_age() method I have, based on the argument passed.

Let's say I have get_age.py where I am using multiple times the same get_age() method.

get_age("Anna")
...
get_age("Ben")

and then in test I want to do:

@patch('get_ages.get_age') <-- mock getting age of Ben
@patch('get_ages.get_age') <-- mock getting age of Anna
def test_get_ages(self, age_A, age_B):

How can I do the mocking of the same method based on the name passed? Thanks!

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered May 22 '20 at 17:59

This can be achieved using the side_effect param to patch.object to call a function which returns a different result depending on the input. For example:

def find_ages(*args):
    if args[0] == 'Anna':
        # Return Anna's data
        return 18
    elif args[0] == ' Ben':
        # Return Ben's data
        return 45

@patch.object(get_ages, 'get_age', side_effect=find_ages)
def test_get_ages(self, get_age):

Mock same method with different return value

1 Answers1