Testing method inside method Python

Question

Can I test a method inside a method in Python?

search.py

   def SearchWeb(query=None):
        """Search via API"""
        search = cool_api.api_request(query)
        def _HandleResponse(search):
            if search:
              return search['result']
        return _HandleResponse(search)

I want to create a test method for _HandleResponse using unittest

search_test.py

import unittest

class MyTest(unittest.TestCase):
    def test(self):
        response = {}
        response['result'] = 'yes'
        self.assertEqual(search._HandleResponse(response), 'yes')

But _HandleResponse is not accessible. I get:

AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute '_HandleResponse'

I can move _HandleResponse outside SearchWeb method and that works, but wondering if this is possible?

It's not possible, the method is actually created every time the function is called. This means you have no static reference to it and you can't write a test. You have to test it through the SearchWeb function. — Reut Sharabani
– Reut Sharabani, Commented Mar 16, 2017 at 16:56

Reut Sharabani · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-29 05:01:22Z

1

As far as I understand it's not possible.

The nested method is actually created every time the function is called. This means you have no static reference to it and you can't write a test to a function that doesn't exist. You have to test it through the SearchWeb function.

Side note: Technically there are probably (complex) things you can do but none that I can think of are worth mentioning.

answered Mar 29, 2017 at 5:01

Reut Sharabani

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