# Mockery Global Configuration

To allow for a degree of fine-tuning, Mockery utilises a singleton configuration object to store a small subset of core behaviours. The three currently present include:

- Option to allow/disallow the mocking of methods which do not actually exist fulfilled (i.e. unused)

- Setter/Getter for added a parameter map for internal PHP class methods (`Reflection` cannot detect these automatically)

- Option to drive if quick definitions should define a stub or a mock with an ‘at least once’ expectation.

By default, the first behaviour is enabled. Of course, there are situations where this can lead to unintended consequences. The mocking of non-existent methods may allow mocks based on real classes/objects to fall out of sync with the actual implementations, especially when some degree of integration testing (testing of object wiring) is not being performed.

You may allow or disallow this behaviour (whether for whole test suites or just select tests) by using the following call:

    \Mockery::getConfiguration()->allowMockingNonExistentMethods(bool);

Passing a true allows the behaviour, false disallows it. It takes effect immediately until switched back. If the behaviour is detected when not allowed, it will result in an Exception being thrown at that point. Note that disallowing this behaviour should be carefully considered since it necessarily removes at least some of Mockery’s flexibility.

The other two methods are:

    \Mockery::getConfiguration()->setInternalClassMethodParamMap($class, $method, array $paramMap)
    \Mockery::getConfiguration()->getInternalClassMethodParamMap($class, $method)

These are used to define parameters (i.e. the signature string of each) for the methods of internal PHP classes (e.g. SPL, or PECL extension classes like ext/mongo’s MongoCollection. Reflection cannot analyse the parameters of internal classes. Most of the time, you never need to do this. It’s mainly needed where an internal class method uses pass-by-reference for a parameter - you MUST in such cases ensure the parameter signature includes the `&` symbol correctly as Mockery won’t correctly add it automatically for internal classes. Note that internal class parameter overriding is not available in PHP 8. This is because incompatible signatures have been reclassified as fatal errors.

Finally there is the possibility to change what a quick definition produces. By default quick definitions create stubs but you can change this behaviour by asking Mockery to use ‘at least once’ expectations.

    \Mockery::getConfiguration()->getQuickDefinitions()->shouldBeCalledAtLeastOnce(bool)

Passing a true allows the behaviour, false disallows it. It takes effect immediately until switched back. By doing so you can avoid the proliferating of quick definitions that accumulate overtime in your code since the test would fail in case the ‘at least once’ expectation is not fulfilled.

## Disabling reflection caching

Mockery heavily uses “reflection” to do it’s job. To speed up things, Mockery caches internally the information it gathers via reflection. In some cases, this caching can cause problems.

The only known situation when this occurs is when PHPUnit’s `--static-backup` option is used. If you use `--static-backup` and you get an error that looks like the following:

    Error: Internal error: Failed to retrieve the reflection object

We suggest turning off the reflection cache as so:

    \Mockery::getConfiguration()->disableReflectionCache();

Turning it back on can be done like so:

    \Mockery::getConfiguration()->enableReflectionCache();

In no other situation should you be required turn this reflection cache off.