test the return value of a method that triggers an error with PHPUnit

Question

This question is specific to using PHPUnit.

PHPUnit automatically converts php errors to exceptions. Is there a way to test the return value of a method that

Answer 1

Instead of expecting a generic "Exception", what about expecting a "PHPUnit_Framework_Error" ?

Something like this might do :

/**
 * @expectedException PHPUnit_Framework_Error
 */
public function testFailingInclude()
{
    include 'not_existing_file.php';
}

Which, I suppose, might also be written as :

public function testLoadFile ()
{
    $this->setExpectedException('PHPUnit_Framework_Error');
    $result = load_file('/some/non-existent/file');

    // code after this point never gets executed

    $this->assertFalse($result);
}

For more informations, see Testing PHP Errors
Especially, it says (quoting) :

PHPUnit_Framework_Error_Notice and PHPUnit_Framework_Error_Warning represent PHP notices and warning, respectively.

Looking at the /usr/share/php/PHPUnit/TextUI/TestRunner.php file I have on my system, I see this (line 198 and following) :

if (!$arguments['convertNoticesToExceptions']) {
    PHPUnit_Framework_Error_Notice::$enabled = FALSE;
}

if (!$arguments['convertWarningsToExceptions']) {
    PHPUnit_Framework_Error_Warning::$enabled = FALSE;
}

So maybe you'll have to pass some kind of parameter to activate that behaviour ? But it seems to be enabled by default...