mockery/mockery

Mockery is a PHP mock object framework for unit testing with PHPUnit, PHPSpec, or other testing frameworks.

Mockery addresses the need to isolate units under test by providing test doubles that simulate real object behavior. It solves this through a human-readable Domain Specific Language that lets developers define expected method calls and return values in a way that reads close to natural language. The framework supports both method stubs, which provide canned responses without caring about call frequency, and method call expectations, which verify that specific interactions occurred as predicted.

Mockery suits teams already using PHPUnit or PHPSpec who want a more expressive mocking API than the default options. It was designed as a drop-in alternative to PHPUnit's phpunit-mock-objects library and can operate alongside it without conflict. The framework offers two syntactic approaches: the newer `allows` method for defining stubs and the established `shouldReceive` syntax for expectations, giving developers flexibility in how they express test doubles. Developers can create type-hinted test doubles by passing a type to the `mock` method, and the project provides PHPUnit integration through a base test case class and traits that reduce boilerplate.

The project maintains active engagement with its codebase through regular updates to its documentation and API refinements. Development shows responsiveness to user needs, as evidenced by the introduction of new syntax options like `allows` while preserving backward compatibility with existing `shouldReceive` patterns. The maintainers continue to expand the framework's capabilities while keeping the core API accessible to new users.