Provided by: perl-doc_5.38.2-3.2ubuntu0.1_all 
NAME
Test2::API::Context - Object to represent a testing context.
DESCRIPTION
The context object is the primary interface for authors of testing tools written with Test2. The context
object represents the context in which a test takes place (File and Line Number), and provides a quick
way to generate events from that context. The context object also takes care of sending events to the
correct Test2::Hub instance.
SYNOPSIS
In general you will not be creating contexts directly. To obtain a context you should always use
context() which is exported by the Test2::API module.
use Test2::API qw/context/;
sub my_ok {
my ($bool, $name) = @_;
my $ctx = context();
if ($bool) {
$ctx->pass($name);
}
else {
$ctx->fail($name);
}
$ctx->release; # You MUST do this!
return $bool;
}
Context objects make it easy to wrap other tools that also use context. Once you grab a context, any tool
you call before releasing your context will inherit it:
sub wrapper {
my ($bool, $name) = @_;
my $ctx = context();
$ctx->diag("wrapping my_ok");
my $out = my_ok($bool, $name);
$ctx->release; # You MUST do this!
return $out;
}
CRITICAL DETAILS
you MUST always use the context() sub from Test2::API
Creating your own context via "Test2::API::Context->new()" will almost never produce a desirable
result. Use context() which is exported by Test2::API.
There are a handful of cases where a tool author may want to create a new context by hand, which is
why the "new" method exists. Unless you really know what you are doing you should avoid this.
You MUST always release the context when done with it
Releasing the context tells the system you are done with it. This gives it a chance to run any
necessary callbacks or cleanup tasks. If you forget to release the context it will try to detect the
problem and warn you about it.
You MUST NOT pass context objects around
When you obtain a context object it is made specifically for your tool and any tools nested within.
If you pass a context around you run the risk of polluting other tools with incorrect context
information.
If you are certain that you want a different tool to use the same context you may pass it a snapshot.
"$ctx->snapshot" will give you a shallow clone of the context that is safe to pass around or store.
You MUST NOT store or cache a context for later
As long as a context exists for a given hub, all tools that try to get a context will get the
existing instance. If you try to store the context you will pollute other tools with incorrect
context information.
If you are certain that you want to save the context for later, you can use a snapshot.
"$ctx->snapshot" will give you a shallow clone of the context that is safe to pass around or store.
context() has some mechanisms to protect you if you do cause a context to persist beyond the scope in
which it was obtained. In practice you should not rely on these protections, and they are fairly
noisy with warnings.
You SHOULD obtain your context as soon as possible in a given tool
You never know what tools you call from within your own tool will need a context. Obtaining the
context early ensures that nested tools can find the context you want them to find.
METHODS
$ctx->done_testing;
Note that testing is finished. If no plan has been set this will generate a Plan event.
$clone = $ctx->snapshot()
This will return a shallow clone of the context. The shallow clone is safe to store for later.
$ctx->release()
This will release the context. This runs cleanup tasks, and several important hooks. It will also
restore $!, $?, and $@ to what they were when the context was created.
Note: If a context is acquired more than once an internal refcount is kept. release() decrements the
ref count, none of the other actions of release() will occur unless the refcount hits 0. This means
only the last call to release() will reset $?, $!, $@,and run the cleanup tasks.
$ctx->throw($message)
This will throw an exception reporting to the file and line number of the context. This will also
release the context for you.
$ctx->alert($message)
This will issue a warning from the file and line number of the context.
$stack = $ctx->stack()
This will return the Test2::API::Stack instance the context used to find the current hub.
$hub = $ctx->hub()
This will return the Test2::Hub instance the context recognizes as the current one to which all
events should be sent.
$dbg = $ctx->trace()
This will return the Test2::EventFacet::Trace instance used by the context.
$ctx->do_in_context(\&code, @args);
Sometimes you have a context that is not current, and you want things to use it as the current one.
In these cases you can call "$ctx->do_in_context(sub { ... })". The codeblock will be run, and
anything inside of it that looks for a context will find the one on which the method was called.
This DOES NOT affect context on other hubs, only the hub used by the context will be affected.
my $ctx = ...;
$ctx->do_in_context(sub {
my $ctx = context(); # returns the $ctx the sub is called on
});
Note: The context will actually be cloned, the clone will be used instead of the original. This
allows the thread id, process id, and error variables to be correct without modifying the original
context.
$ctx->restore_error_vars()
This will set $!, $?, and $@ to what they were when the context was created. There is no localization
or anything done here, calling this method will actually set these vars.
$! = $ctx->errno()
The (numeric) value of $! when the context was created.
$? = $ctx->child_error()
The value of $? when the context was created.
$@ = $ctx->eval_error()
The value of $@ when the context was created.
EVENT PRODUCTION METHODS
Which one do I use?
The "pass*" and "fail*" are optimal if they meet your situation, using one of them will always be the
most optimal. That said they are optimal by eliminating many features.
Method such as "ok", and "note" are shortcuts for generating common 1-task events based on the old API,
however they are forward compatible, and easy to use. If these meet your needs then go ahead and use
them, but please check back often for alternatives that may be added.
If you want to generate new style events, events that do many things at once, then you want the "*ev2*"
methods. These let you directly specify which facets you wish to use.
$event = $ctx->pass()
$event = $ctx->pass($name)
This will send and return an Test2::Event::Pass event. You may optionally provide a $name for the
assertion.
The Test2::Event::Pass is a specially crafted and optimized event, using this will help the
performance of passing tests.
$true = $ctx->pass_and_release()
$true = $ctx->pass_and_release($name)
This is a combination of pass() and release(). You can use this if you do not plan to do anything
with the context after sending the event. This helps write more clear and compact code.
sub shorthand {
my ($bool, $name) = @_;
my $ctx = context();
return $ctx->pass_and_release($name) if $bool;
... Handle a failure ...
}
sub longform {
my ($bool, $name) = @_;
my $ctx = context();
if ($bool) {
$ctx->pass($name);
$ctx->release;
return 1;
}
... Handle a failure ...
}
my $event = $ctx->fail()
my $event = $ctx->fail($name)
my $event = $ctx->fail($name, @diagnostics)
This lets you send an Test2::Event::Fail event. You may optionally provide a $name and @diagnostics
messages.
Diagnostics messages can be simple strings, data structures, or instances of
Test2::EventFacet::Info::Table (which are converted inline into the Test2::EventFacet::Info
structure).
my $false = $ctx->fail_and_release()
my $false = $ctx->fail_and_release($name)
my $false = $ctx->fail_and_release($name, @diagnostics)
This is a combination of fail() and release(). This can be used to write clearer and shorter code.
sub shorthand {
my ($bool, $name) = @_;
my $ctx = context();
return $ctx->fail_and_release($name) unless $bool;
... Handle a success ...
}
sub longform {
my ($bool, $name) = @_;
my $ctx = context();
unless ($bool) {
$ctx->pass($name);
$ctx->release;
return 1;
}
... Handle a success ...
}
$event = $ctx->ok($bool, $name)
$event = $ctx->ok($bool, $name, \@on_fail)
NOTE: Use of this method is discouraged in favor of pass() and fail() which produce
Test2::Event::Pass and Test2::Event::Fail events. These newer event types are faster and less crufty.
This will create an Test2::Event::Ok object for you. If $bool is false then an Test2::Event::Diag
event will be sent as well with details about the failure. If you do not want automatic diagnostics
you should use the send_event() method directly.
The third argument "\@on_fail") is an optional set of diagnostics to be sent in the event of a test
failure. Unlike with fail() these diagnostics must be plain strings, data structures are not
supported.
$event = $ctx->note($message)
Send an Test2::Event::Note. This event prints a message to STDOUT.
$event = $ctx->diag($message)
Send an Test2::Event::Diag. This event prints a message to STDERR.
$event = $ctx->plan($max)
$event = $ctx->plan(0, 'SKIP', $reason)
This can be used to send an Test2::Event::Plan event. This event usually takes either a number of
tests you expect to run. Optionally you can set the expected count to 0 and give the 'SKIP' directive
with a reason to cause all tests to be skipped.
$event = $ctx->skip($name, $reason);
Send an Test2::Event::Skip event.
$event = $ctx->bail($reason)
This sends an Test2::Event::Bail event. This event will completely terminate all testing.
$event = $ctx->send_ev2(%facets)
This lets you build and send a V2 event directly from facets. The event is returned after it is sent.
This example sends a single assertion, a note (comment for stdout in Test::Builder talk) and sets the
plan to 1.
my $event = $ctx->send_event(
plan => {count => 1},
assert => {pass => 1, details => "A passing assert"},
info => [{tag => 'NOTE', details => "This is a note"}],
);
$event = $ctx->build_e2(%facets)
This is the same as send_ev2(), except it builds and returns the event without sending it.
$event = $ctx->send_ev2_and_release($Type, %parameters)
This is a combination of send_ev2() and release().
sub shorthand {
my $ctx = context();
return $ctx->send_ev2_and_release(assert => {pass => 1, details => 'foo'});
}
sub longform {
my $ctx = context();
my $event = $ctx->send_ev2(assert => {pass => 1, details => 'foo'});
$ctx->release;
return $event;
}
$event = $ctx->send_event($Type, %parameters)
It is better to use send_ev2() in new code.
This lets you build and send an event of any type. The $Type argument should be the event package
name with "Test2::Event::" left off, or a fully qualified package name prefixed with a '+'. The event
is returned after it is sent.
my $event = $ctx->send_event('Ok', ...);
or
my $event = $ctx->send_event('+Test2::Event::Ok', ...);
$event = $ctx->build_event($Type, %parameters)
It is better to use build_ev2() in new code.
This is the same as send_event(), except it builds and returns the event without sending it.
$event = $ctx->send_event_and_release($Type, %parameters)
It is better to use send_ev2_and_release() in new code.
This is a combination of send_event() and release().
sub shorthand {
my $ctx = context();
return $ctx->send_event_and_release(Pass => { name => 'foo' });
}
sub longform {
my $ctx = context();
my $event = $ctx->send_event(Pass => { name => 'foo' });
$ctx->release;
return $event;
}
HOOKS
There are 2 types of hooks, init hooks, and release hooks. As the names suggest, these hooks are
triggered when contexts are created or released.
INIT HOOKS
These are called whenever a context is initialized. That means when a new instance is created. These
hooks are NOT called every time something requests a context, just when a new one is created.
GLOBAL
This is how you add a global init callback. Global callbacks happen for every context for any hub or
stack.
Test2::API::test2_add_callback_context_init(sub {
my $ctx = shift;
...
});
PER HUB
This is how you add an init callback for all contexts created for a given hub. These callbacks will not
run for other hubs.
$hub->add_context_init(sub {
my $ctx = shift;
...
});
PER CONTEXT
This is how you specify an init hook that will only run if your call to context() generates a new
context. The callback will be ignored if context() is returning an existing context.
my $ctx = context(on_init => sub {
my $ctx = shift;
...
});
RELEASE HOOKS
These are called whenever a context is released. That means when the last reference to the instance is
about to be destroyed. These hooks are NOT called every time "$ctx->release" is called.
GLOBAL
This is how you add a global release callback. Global callbacks happen for every context for any hub or
stack.
Test2::API::test2_add_callback_context_release(sub {
my $ctx = shift;
...
});
PER HUB
This is how you add a release callback for all contexts created for a given hub. These callbacks will not
run for other hubs.
$hub->add_context_release(sub {
my $ctx = shift;
...
});
PER CONTEXT
This is how you add release callbacks directly to a context. The callback will ALWAYS be added to the
context that gets returned, it does not matter if a new one is generated, or if an existing one is
returned.
my $ctx = context(on_release => sub {
my $ctx = shift;
...
});
THIRD PARTY META-DATA
This object consumes Test2::Util::ExternalMeta which provides a consistent way for you to attach meta-
data to instances of this class. This is useful for tools, plugins, and other extensions.
SOURCE
The source code repository for Test2 can be found at http://github.com/Test-More/test-more/.
MAINTAINERS
Chad Granum <exodist@cpan.org>
AUTHORS
Chad Granum <exodist@cpan.org>
Kent Fredric <kentnl@cpan.org>
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 2020 Chad Granum <exodist@cpan.org>.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl
itself.
See http://dev.perl.org/licenses/
perl v5.38.2 2025-04-08 Test2::API::Context(3perl)