Pass request through method in test - php

Question

I have a generate() method on my class which is just a shorthand way to create an instance of the class. It accepts a request which is type hinted on the method. I am trying to unit test this and the only way I know how is to make an answer and pass that through. That doesn’t work tho because it is not a request. Is there a work around for this? Here is the method:
public static function generate(Question $question, Request $request): self
{
return self::create([
'user_id' => Auth::user()->getKey(),
'question_id' => $question->getKey(),
'answer_body' => $request->answer_body,
]);
}
Here is the test
/** #test */
public function it_can_generate_a_new_instance()
{
$user = factory(User::class)->create();
$this->actingAs($user);
$question = factory(Question::class)->create();
$answer = factory(Answer::class)->make();
Answer::generate($question, $answer);
$this->assertEquals($user->getKey(), Answer::first()->user_id);
$this->assertEquals($question->getKey(), Answer::first()->question_id);
$this->assertEquals($answer->answer_body, Answer::first()->answer_body);
}
The test passes until I type hint Request in the method.

Answer 1

You can make a new request object with the given property. It's probably a bit flimsy but it should work:
public function it_can_generate_a_new_instance()
{
$user = factory(User::class)->create();
$this->actingAs($user);
$question = factory(Question::class)->create();
$answer = factory(Answer::class)->make();
$request = new Request([ 'answer_body' => $answer->answer_body ]);
Answer::generate($question, $request);
$this->assertEquals($user->getKey(), Answer::first()->user_id);
$this->assertEquals($question->getKey(), Answer::first()->question_id);
$this->assertEquals($answer->answer_body, Answer::first()->answer_body);
}

Answer 2

a request should only be present on a controller, and not in the Model Answer (Or you will encounter errors like that ^^)
If your process require a request, then you should test an http request instead :
/** #test */
public function it_can_generate_a_new_instance()
{
$user = factory(User::class)->create();
$this->actingAs($user);
$question = factory(Question::class)->create();
$answer = factory(Answer::class)->make();
$this->post(route('answer.store'), $answer->toArray());
// Then your answer will be generated in your controller
$this->assertEquals($user->getKey(), Answer::first()->user_id);
$this->assertEquals($question->getKey(), Answer::first()->question_id);
$this->assertEquals($answer->answer_body, Answer::first()->answer_body);
}