AngularJS unit testing with $httpBackend is impacted by conflicts with UI-Router

Question

AngularJS unit testing with $httpBackend is impacted by conflicts with UI-Router

Here is a controller that utilizes a submit function:

$scope.submit = function(){   

 $http.post('/api/project', $scope.project)
      .success(function(data, status){
        $modalInstance.dismiss(true);
      })
      .error(function(data){
        console.log(data);
      })
  }
}

This is my test scenario:

it('should send a POST request to /api/project on submit and close the modal on success', function() {
    scope.submit();

    $httpBackend.expectPOST('/api/project').respond(200, 'test');

    $httpBackend.flush();

    expect(modalInstance.dismiss).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
  });

An error message is displayed as:

Error: Unexpected request: GET views/appBar.html

The templateUrl points to views/appBar.html:

 .state('project', {
    url: '/',
    templateUrl:'views/appBar.html',
    controller: 'ProjectsCtrl'
  })

It seems that ui-router is causing $httpBackend to target the templateUrl instead of the submit function. This issue persists in all tests using $httpBackend.

Is there a possible solution for this problem?

javascript angularjs angular-ui karma-runner angular-ui-router

Answer 1

Answer №1

Check out this helpful code snippet https://gist.github.com/wilsonwc/8358542

angular.module('stateMock',[]);
angular.module('stateMock').service("$state", function($q){
    this.expectedTransitions = [];
    this.transitionTo = function(stateName){
        if(this.expectedTransitions.length > 0){
            var expectedState = this.expectedTransitions.shift();
            if(expectedState !== stateName){
                throw Error("Expected transition to state: " + expectedState + " but transitioned to " + stateName );
            }
        }else{
            throw Error("No more transitions were expected! Tried to transition to "+ stateName );
        }
        console.log("Mock transition to: " + stateName);
        var deferred = $q.defer();
        var promise = deferred.promise;
        deferred.resolve();
        return promise;
    }
    this.go = this.transitionTo;
    this.expectTransitionTo = function(stateName){
        this.expectedTransitions.push(stateName);
    }

    this.ensureAllTransitionsHappened = function(){
        if(this.expectedTransitions.length > 0){
            throw Error("Not all transitions happened!");
        }
    }
});

Create a file named stateMock in your test/mock folder, and make sure to include it in your karma configuration.

The setup for your test should be similar to:

beforeEach(module('stateMock'));

// Initialize the controller and a mock scope
beforeEach(inject(function ($state //other vars as needed) {
    state = $state;
    //initialize other stuff
}

In your test, don't forget to add

state.expectTransitionTo('project');

Answer 2

Check out this helpful code snippet https://gist.github.com/wilsonwc/8358542

angular.module('stateMock',[]);
angular.module('stateMock').service("$state", function($q){
    this.expectedTransitions = [];
    this.transitionTo = function(stateName){
        if(this.expectedTransitions.length > 0){
            var expectedState = this.expectedTransitions.shift();
            if(expectedState !== stateName){
                throw Error("Expected transition to state: " + expectedState + " but transitioned to " + stateName );
            }
        }else{
            throw Error("No more transitions were expected! Tried to transition to "+ stateName );
        }
        console.log("Mock transition to: " + stateName);
        var deferred = $q.defer();
        var promise = deferred.promise;
        deferred.resolve();
        return promise;
    }
    this.go = this.transitionTo;
    this.expectTransitionTo = function(stateName){
        this.expectedTransitions.push(stateName);
    }

    this.ensureAllTransitionsHappened = function(){
        if(this.expectedTransitions.length > 0){
            throw Error("Not all transitions happened!");
        }
    }
});

Create a file named stateMock in your test/mock folder, and make sure to include it in your karma configuration.

The setup for your test should be similar to:

beforeEach(module('stateMock'));

// Initialize the controller and a mock scope
beforeEach(inject(function ($state //other vars as needed) {
    state = $state;
    //initialize other stuff
}

In your test, don't forget to add

state.expectTransitionTo('project');

Answer 3

Answer №2

In this Github issue discussing Unit Testing UI Router, the situation is explained in more detail.

The issue arises when $httpBackend.flush() triggers a broadcast, which then activates the otherwise case of the stateProvider.

An easy solution suggested by @darinclark in the aforementioned Github thread is to implement the following setup. This workaround works if you do not need to test state transitions. If you do require testing state transitions, refer to @rosswil's answer which draws inspiration from @Vratislav's response on Github.

beforeEach(module(function ($urlRouterProvider) {
    $urlRouterProvider.otherwise(function(){return false;});
}));

UPDATE:

Credit goes to Chris T for bringing up in the comments that perhaps after version 0.2.14, the preferred method is to utilize

beforeEach(module(function($urlRouterProvider) {
  $urlRouterProvider.deferIntercept();
}));

Answer 4

In this Github issue discussing Unit Testing UI Router, the situation is explained in more detail.

The issue arises when $httpBackend.flush() triggers a broadcast, which then activates the otherwise case of the stateProvider.

An easy solution suggested by @darinclark in the aforementioned Github thread is to implement the following setup. This workaround works if you do not need to test state transitions. If you do require testing state transitions, refer to @rosswil's answer which draws inspiration from @Vratislav's response on Github.

beforeEach(module(function ($urlRouterProvider) {
    $urlRouterProvider.otherwise(function(){return false;});
}));

UPDATE:

Credit goes to Chris T for bringing up in the comments that perhaps after version 0.2.14, the preferred method is to utilize

beforeEach(module(function($urlRouterProvider) {
  $urlRouterProvider.deferIntercept();
}));

Answer 5

Answer №3

For those who prefer not to include gist files as suggested in the correct solution, an alternative approach is to utilize a "when" condition with $httpBackend to disregard GET requests for specific views. This can be achieved by implementing the following code snippet:

$httpBackend.when("GET", function (url) {
    // Customize this condition according to your requirements
    return url.indexOf(".tpl.html") !== -1;
}).passThrough();

Answer 6

For those who prefer not to include gist files as suggested in the correct solution, an alternative approach is to utilize a "when" condition with $httpBackend to disregard GET requests for specific views. This can be achieved by implementing the following code snippet:

$httpBackend.when("GET", function (url) {
    // Customize this condition according to your requirements
    return url.indexOf(".tpl.html") !== -1;
}).passThrough();

Answer 7

Answer №4

Encountered a similar error as mentioned in your comment, when contacting support they requested the URL for the ui-route.

The issue of invoking the otherwise ui-route during testing can be resolved by excluding $state injection in the beforeeach statement. In my tests, utilizing $state did not seem necessary.

Answer 8

Encountered a similar error as mentioned in your comment, when contacting support they requested the URL for the ui-route.

The issue of invoking the otherwise ui-route during testing can be resolved by excluding $state injection in the beforeeach statement. In my tests, utilizing $state did not seem necessary.

Answer 9

Answer №5

Separate your services into a standalone module that is independent of ui.router. Let your main application depend on this module instead. During testing, focus on testing the module containing your services rather than the main app. By keeping the stateprovider separate from the ui.router, you can prevent any unwanted changes in state/route. This approach has proven successful for me.

Answer 10

Separate your services into a standalone module that is independent of ui.router. Let your main application depend on this module instead. During testing, focus on testing the module containing your services rather than the main app. By keeping the stateprovider separate from the ui.router, you can prevent any unwanted changes in state/route. This approach has proven successful for me.

AngularJS unit testing with $httpBackend is impacted by conflicts with UI-Router

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

Answer №4

Answer №5

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