Testing model

Model / Service Unit Testing in ColdBox

When to Use This Skill

• Unit testing a service, repository, ORM entity, or utility model in complete isolation
• Mocking logger, LogBox, CacheBox, or WireBox dependencies pre-wired by ColdBox
• Testing model logic without loading the full ColdBox virtual app
• Injecting MockBox stubs for model's injected properties

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Base Class

coldbox.system.testing.BaseModelTest

Extends BaseTestCase with loadColdBox="false" — no virtual app is started. Your model CFC is instantiated and handed to you in variables.model.

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Minimal Setup

class extends="coldbox.system.testing.BaseModelTest" model="models.UserService" {

    function beforeAll() {
        super.setup()          // creates variables.model and pre-wired mocks
        model.init()           // call your component's own init() if needed
    }

    function run() {
        describe( "UserService", () => {

            it( "returns an empty array by default", () => {
                expect( model.findAll() ).toBeArray()
            } )

        } )
    }
}

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Pre-Wired Mock Variables

After calling super.setup(), the following MockBox-created stubs are available:

Variable	Type	Description
variables.model	CFC instance	The model under test
variables.mockLogger	Mock object	Stand-in for LogBox.getLogger()
variables.mockLogBox	Mock object	Stand-in for the full LogBox instance
variables.mockCacheBox	Mock object	Stand-in for CacheBox
variables.mockWireBox	Mock object	Stand-in for the WireBox injector

Inject these into your model when its properties reference them:

function beforeAll() {
    super.setup()

    // inject mock logger if UserService has property name="log" inject="logbox:logger:{this}"
    prepareMock( model )
        .$property( propertyName = "log", mock = mockLogger )
        .$property( propertyName = "wirebox", mock = mockWireBox )

    model.init()
}

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Mocking Collaborating Services

class extends="coldbox.system.testing.BaseModelTest" model="models.OrderService" {

    function beforeAll() {
        super.setup()

        variables.mockProductRepo = createMock( "models.ProductRepository" )
        variables.mockEmailer     = createMock( "models.MailService" )

        prepareMock( model )
            .$property( propertyName = "productRepository", mock = mockProductRepo )
            .$property( propertyName = "mailService",       mock = mockEmailer )

        model.init()
    }

    function run() {
        describe( "OrderService", () => {

            it( "places an order and sends a confirmation email", () => {
                mockProductRepo
                    .$( "findById" )
                    .$results( { id: 1, price: 29.99, stock: 10 } )

                mockEmailer.$( "send" ).$results( true )

                var order = model.placeOrder( productId = 1, quantity = 2, userId = 42 )

                expect( order.status ).toBe( "confirmed" )
                expect( mockEmailer.$once( "send" ) ).toBeTrue()
            } )

            it( "throws when stock is insufficient", () => {
                mockProductRepo
                    .$( "findById" )
                    .$results( { id: 1, price: 29.99, stock: 0 } )

                expect( () => {
                    model.placeOrder( productId = 1, quantity = 5, userId = 42 )
                } ).toThrow( type = "models.OrderService.InsufficientStockException" )
            } )

        } )
    }
}

---

init() Patterns

Some models accept constructor arguments; others use WireBox property injection only. Match the pattern your model uses:

// Pattern 1: no-arg init (injection-only model)
model.init()

// Pattern 2: init with arguments
model.init( dsn = "myDB", timeout = 30 )

// Pattern 3: no init needed (properties all mock-injected before any usage)
prepareMock( model )
    .$property( propertyName = "userGateway", mock = mockGateway )
// call model methods directly without init()

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Testing Model with ORM Entities

When a model interacts with ORM:

class extends="coldbox.system.testing.BaseModelTest" model="models.PostService" {

    function beforeAll() {
        super.setup()

        variables.mockORM = createMock( "cborm.models.BaseORMService" )
        prepareMock( model )
            .$property( propertyName = "postRepository", mock = mockORM )

        model.init()
    }

    function run() {
        describe( "PostService", () => {

            it( "finds published posts", () => {
                mockORM
                    .$( "findAllWhere" )
                    .$results( [
                        { id: 1, title: "Hello", status: "published" },
                        { id: 2, title: "World", status: "published" }
                    ] )

                var posts = model.getPublished()
                expect( posts ).toHaveLength( 2 )
                expect( mockORM.$once( "findAllWhere" ) ).toBeTrue()
            } )

        } )
    }
}

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Testing Private / Protected Methods with MockBox

function run() {
    describe( "UserService private methods", () => {

        it( "hashes passwords correctly", () => {
            prepareMock( model )
            // makePublic exposes private/package methods for testing
            model.$( "hashPassword", "hashed_result" )

            var hash = model.$getProperty( "hashPassword" )
            // alternatively call via invokePrivate if TestBox supports it:
            var result = model.invokePrivate( "hashPassword", [ "mypassword" ] )
            expect( result ).toBe( "hashed_result" )
        } )

    } )
}

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Asserting Log Calls

it( "logs an error when save fails", () => {
    mockProductRepo.$( "save" ).$throws( message = "DB Error", type = "DatabaseException" )
    mockLogger.$( "error" )

    expect( () => { model.saveProduct( {} ) } ).toThrow()
    expect( mockLogger.$once( "error" ) ).toBeTrue()
} )

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CommandBox Scaffolding

# Generate a model and its unit test together
coldbox create model name=UserService properties="name,email" --tests

# Or generate just the test
coldbox create unit-test name=UserService type=model --open

The generated file extends BaseModelTest with the model annotation pre-filled.

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Key Patterns Summary

Pattern	Code
Extend base class	extends="coldbox.system.testing.BaseModelTest" model="models.MyService"
Boot model	super.setup() then model.init()
Inject mock logger	prepareMock( model ).$property( propertyName="log", mock=mockLogger )
Mock a collaborator	createMock("models.Other"), inject via $property()
Assert method called	expect( mockX.$once("method") ).toBeTrue()
Stub return value	mockX.$( "method" ).$results( value )
Stub exception	mockX.$( "method" ).$throws( message, type )