---
layout: doc
title: DataFactory - Codeception - Documentation
---
# DataFactory
DataFactory allows you to easily generate and create test data using [**FactoryMuffin**](https://github.com/thephpleague/factory-muffin).
DataFactory uses an ORM of your application to define, save and cleanup data. Thus, should be used with ORM or Framework modules.
This module requires packages installed:
{% highlight json %}
{
"league/factory-muffin": "^3.0",
"league/factory-muffin-faker": "^1.0"
}
{% endhighlight %}
Generation rules can be defined in a factories file. You will need to create `factories.php` (it is recommended to store it in `_support` dir)
Follow [FactoryMuffin documentation](https://github.com/thephpleague/factory-muffin) to set valid rules.
Random data provided by [Faker](https://github.com/fzaninotto/Faker) library.
{% highlight php %}
define(User::class)->setDefinitions([
'name' => Faker::name(),
// generate email
'email' => Faker::email(),
'body' => Faker::text(),
// generate a profile and return its Id
'profile_id' => 'factory|Profile'
);
{% endhighlight %}
Configure this module to load factory definitions from a directory.
You should also specify a module with an ORM as a dependency.
{% highlight yaml %}
modules:
enabled:
- Yii2:
configFile: path/to/config.php
- DataFactory:
factories: tests/_support/factories
depends: Yii2
{% endhighlight %}
(you can also use Laravel5 and Phalcon).
In this example factories are loaded from `tests/_support/factories` directory. Please note that this directory is relative from the codeception.yml file (so for Yii2 it would be codeception/_support/factories).
* You should create this directory manually and create PHP files in it with factories definitions following [official documentation](https://github.com/thephpleague/factory-muffin#usage).
In cases you want to use data from database inside your factory definitions you can define them in Helper.
For instance, if you use Doctrine, this allows you to access `EntityManager` inside a definition.
To proceed you should create Factories helper via `generate:helper` command and enable it:
{% highlight yaml %}
modules:
enabled:
- DataFactory:
depends: Doctrine2
- \Helper\Factories
{% endhighlight %}
In this case you can define factories from a Helper class with `_define` method.
{% highlight php %}
getModule('DataFactory');
// let us get EntityManager from Doctrine
$em = $this->getModule('Doctrine2')->_getEntityManager();
$factory->_define(User::class, [
// generate random user name
// use League\FactoryMuffin\Faker\Facade as Faker;
'name' => Faker::name(),
// get real company from database
'company' => $em->getRepository(Company::class)->find(),
// let's generate a profile for each created user
// receive an entity and set it via `setProfile` method
// UserProfile factory should be defined as well
'profile' => 'entity|'.UserProfile::class
]);
}
{% endhighlight %}
Factory Definitions are described in official [Factory Muffin Documentation](https://github.com/thephpleague/factory-muffin)
#### Related Models Generators
If your module relies on other model you can generate them both.
To create a related module you can use either `factory` or `entity` prefix, depending on ORM you use.
In case your ORM expects an Id of a related record (Eloquent) to be set use `factory` prefix:
{% highlight php %}
'user_id' => 'factory|User'
{% endhighlight %}
In case your ORM expects a related record itself (Doctrine) then you should use `entity` prefix:
{% highlight php %}
'user' => 'entity|User'
{% endhighlight %}
### Actions
#### have
Generates and saves a record,.
{% highlight php %}
$I->have('User'); // creates user
$I->have('User', ['is_active' => true]); // creates active user
{% endhighlight %}
Returns an instance of created user.
* `param` $name
* `param array` $extraAttrs
* `return` object
#### haveMultiple
Generates and saves a record multiple times.
{% highlight php %}
$I->haveMultiple('User', 10); // create 10 users
$I->haveMultiple('User', 10, ['is_active' => true]); // create 10 active users
{% endhighlight %}
* `param` $name
* `param` $times
* `param array` $extraAttrs
* `return` \object[]