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c#unit-testingasp.net-mvc-4asp.net-web-api
Ruoyu Jiang
Ruoyu Jiang

Reputation: 195

Unit Test Web Api Controller fake ApiController.User with custom Identity doesn't work

I'm currently working with Web API v5.2.2 and I'm writing Unit Test code for one of the controllers. The problem I encountered was happening in ApiController.User part.

I have a custom Identity for the user implemented IIdentity Interface:

public class CustomIdentity : IIdentity
{
    //Constructor and methods
}

The CustomIdentity was set in the HttpRequest in normal usage. But since I'm only testing the query functionalities in the Unit Test, I just called the controller and its methods instead of sending requests.

Thus, I have to insert the User Identity into the Thread, and I tried with following ways:

var controller = new AccountsController(new AccountUserContext());

First try:

controller.User = new ClaimsPrincipal(new GenericPrincipal(new CustomIdentity(user), roles.Distinct().ToArray()));

And second try:

IPrincipal principal = null;

principal = new GenericPrincipal(new CustomIdentity(user), roles.Distinct().ToArray());

Thread.CurrentPrincipal = principal;

if (HttpContext.Current != null)
{
    HttpContext.Current.User = principal;
}

However, I got this error from both attempts:

Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

And I found the User identity remains null in the thread.

Anyone tried this method before? Thank you for the advice!

Upvotes: 4

Views: 1280

Answers (1)

Nkosi
Nkosi

Reputation: 246998

You said

The CustomIdentity was set in the HttpRequest in normal usage.

Are you attaching a request to the controller when assembling your test.

Check the examples here

Unit Testing Controllers in ASP.NET Web API 2

[TestMethod]
public void QueryAccountControllerTest()
{
    // Arrange
    var user = "[Username Here]"
    var controller = new AccountsController(new AccountUserContext());
    //Set a fake request. If your controller creates responses you will need tis
    controller.Request = new HttpRequestMessage { 
        RequestUri = new Uri("http://localhost/api/accounts") 
    };        
    controller.Configuration = new HttpConfiguration();
    controller.User = new ClaimsPrincipal(new CustomIdentity(user));

    // Act
    ... call action

    // Assert
    ... assert result
}

Upvotes: 2

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