Can I “Mock” time in PHPUnit?

Question

... not knowing if \'mock\' is the right word.

Anyway, I have an inherited code-base that I\'m trying to write some tests for that are time-based. Trying not to be <

Answer 1

Carbon::setTestNow(Carbon $time = null) makes any call to Carbon::now() or new Carbon('now') return the same time.

https://medium.com/@stefanledin/mock-date-and-time-with-carbon-8a9f72cb843d

Example:

    public function testSomething()
    {
        $now = Carbon::now();
        // Mock Carbon::now() / new Carbon('now') to always return the same time
        Carbon::setTestNow($now);

        // Do the time sensitive test:
        $this->retroEncabulator('prefabulate')
            ->assertJsonFragment(['whenDidThisHappen' => $now->timestamp])

        // Release the Carbon::now() mock
        Carbon::setTestNow();
    }

The $this->retroEncabulator() function needs to use Carbon::now() or new Carbon('now') internally of course.