unit-test-exception-handler
Unit testing patterns for Spring @ExceptionHandler and @ControllerAdvice global exception handlers.
- Test exception-to-error-response transformations and HTTP status codes using MockMvc with
setControllerAdvice()to register handlers - Verify error response structure includes required fields (timestamp, status, error, message) and test field-level validation errors from
MethodArgumentNotValidException - Cover multiple exception types with appropriate status codes (404, 409, 401, 403, 500) and test logging or side effects triggered by handlers
- Use mock test controllers that throw exceptions to trigger handler behavior without full integration test overhead
Unit Testing ExceptionHandler and ControllerAdvice
Overview
This skill provides patterns for writing unit tests for Spring Boot exception handlers. It covers testing @ExceptionHandler methods in @ControllerAdvice classes using MockMvc, including HTTP status assertions, JSON response validation, field-level validation error testing, and mocking handler dependencies.
When to Use
- Writing unit tests for
@ExceptionHandlermethods - Testing
@ControllerAdviceglobal exception handling - Validating REST API error response formatting
- Mocking exceptions in controller tests
- Testing field-level validation error responses
- Asserting custom error payloads and HTTP status codes
Instructions
- Create a test controller that throws specific exceptions to trigger each
@ExceptionHandler - Register ControllerAdvice via
setControllerAdvice()onMockMvcBuilders.standaloneSetup()
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