How to unit test Django's Function Based Views

Posted on One min read

Let’s assume than the URL pattern to your Function Based View is defined like that:

_urls.py_

urlpatterns = patterns(
    ..., 
    url(r'^$', views.index, name='index'), 
    ...
)

and your function based view looks like this: _views.py_

@api_view(['GET']) @permission_classes((AllowAny,))
def index(request): 
    data = { 'field': 'value' } 
    return Response(data)

Then you can unit test such view by creating a minimal instance of the HttpRequest and pass it to that view. I tried to mock to test such view with the Mock library, by with no luck!!! If case you know how to do it with Mock, then let me know!

def test_index_function_based_view(): 
    _request = HttpRequest() 
    _request.method = 'GET' 
    request = Request(_request) 
    response = index(request) 
    assert response.data['field'] == 'value'