PHPUnit Protected accessibility example

gistfile1.php

<?php
/**
 * This class contains one protected method we wish to test.
 * In reality, it would also contain several public methods,
 * but that's immaterial to our discussion.
 * 
 * @pacakge Tutorials
 */
class ClassToTest {
    /**
     * Does something cool
     * 
     * @returns string
     */
    protected function someFunction() {
        return 'expected';
    }
}

/**
 * Arbitrary subclass of the class we wish to test. Any methods of
 * this class are just passthroughs for the protected functions
 * defined by the parent.  Any public methods on the parent can also
 * be tested through the subclass since they're not overridden and
 * will be inherited as usual.
 * 
 * @package Tutorials
 * @subpackage Tests
 */
class test_ClassToTest extends ClassToTest {
    /**
     * Override for parent method. Just passes the result through.
     */
    public function someFunction() {
        return parent::someFunction();
    }
}

/**
 * The test class is using vanilla PHPUnit code.
 * 
 * @package Tutorials
 * @subpackage Tests
 */
class TestCase extends PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase {
    public function test_someFunction() {
        // Remember, the subclass is functionally identical to its parent,
        // The only difference is method visibility.
        $instance = new test_ClassToTest();
        
        $result = $instance->someFunction();
        
        $this->assertEquals( 'expected', $result );
    }
}