Mocking and Stubbing with Mockery

PHPUnit ships its own test-double API, but Mockery offers a more fluent, expressive syntax and capabilities PHPUnit's mocks lack — partial mocks, spies, flexible argument matching, and ordered expectations. For complex collaboration-heavy code, Mockery often reads far better. This lesson covers the full spectrum of doubles and when to use each.

Precise vocabulary prevents confused tests:

• Stub — returns canned values; you assert on state (the result).
• Mock — has expectations on calls; you assert on behavior (it was called correctly). Failing expectations fail the test.
• Spy — records calls and lets you assert after the fact.

Rule of thumb: prefer stubs for queries, mocks/spies for commands.