How to test if JSON path does not include a specific element, or if the element is present it is null?

Question

I have been writing some simple unit testing routines for a simple spring web application. When I add @JsonIgnore annotation on a getter method of a resource, the resulting json

Answer 1

I wanted to reuse the same code I use for testing for the parameter being supplied, and for it missing, and this is what I came up with

  @Test
  void testEditionFoundInRequest() throws JsonProcessingException {
    testEditionWithValue("myEdition");
  }

  @Test
  void testEditionNotFoundInRequest() {
    try {
      testEditionWithValue(null);
      throw new RuntimeException("Shouldn't pass");
    } catch (AssertionError | JsonProcessingException e) {
      var msg = e.getMessage();
      assertTrue(msg.contains("No value at JSON path"));
    }
  }


  void testEditionWithValue(String edition) {   
   var HOST ="fakeHost";
   var restTemplate = new RestTemplate();
   var myRestClientUsingRestTemplate = new MyRestClientUsingRestTemplate(HOST, restTemplate);
   MockRestServiceServer mockServer;
   ObjectMapper objectMapper = new ObjectMapper();
   String id = "userId";
   var mockResponse = "{}";

   var request = new MyRequest.Builder(id).edition(null).build();
   mockServer = MockRestServiceServer.bindTo(restTemplate).bufferContent().build();

   mockServer
        .expect(method(POST))

        // THIS IS THE LINE I'd like to say "NOT" found
        .andExpect(jsonPath("$.edition").value(edition))
        .andRespond(withSuccess(mockResponse, APPLICATION_JSON));

    var response = myRestClientUsingRestTemplate.makeRestCall(request);
  } catch (AssertionError | JsonProcessingException e) {
    var msg = e.getMessage();
    assertTrue(msg.contains("No value at JSON path"));
  }