RabbitMQ integration testing with @SpringRabbitTest, RabbitListenerTestHarness, TestRabbitTemplate, and Testcontainers. Covers Java/Spring, Node.js, and Python. USE WHEN: user mentions "rabbitmq test", "@SpringRabbitTest", "RabbitListenerTestHarness", "TestRabbitTemplate", "RabbitMQContainer", "rabbitmq integration test" DO NOT USE FOR: RabbitMQ configuration - use `rabbitmq` skill; Spring AMQP usage - use `spring-amqp` skill; Generic testcontainers - use `testcontainers` skill
Scanned 9/8/2026
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---
name: messaging-testing-rabbitmq
description: |
RabbitMQ integration testing with @SpringRabbitTest, RabbitListenerTestHarness,
TestRabbitTemplate, and Testcontainers. Covers Java/Spring, Node.js, and Python.
USE WHEN: user mentions "rabbitmq test", "@SpringRabbitTest", "RabbitListenerTestHarness",
"TestRabbitTemplate", "RabbitMQContainer", "rabbitmq integration test"
DO NOT USE FOR: RabbitMQ configuration - use `rabbitmq` skill;
Spring AMQP usage - use `spring-amqp` skill;
Generic testcontainers - use `testcontainers` skill
allowed-tools: Read, Grep, Glob, Write, Edit
---
# RabbitMQ Integration Testing
> **Quick References**: See `quick-ref/spring-rabbit-test.md` for @SpringRabbitTest details, `quick-ref/testcontainers-rabbitmq.md` for Testcontainers patterns.
## Testing Approach Selection
| Approach | Speed | Fidelity | Best For |
|----------|-------|----------|----------|
| **@SpringRabbitTest + Harness** | Fast (no broker) | Medium (spy/capture) | Testing listener logic with Spring context |
| **TestRabbitTemplate** | Fast (no broker) | Low (no routing) | Testing send/receive without real broker |
| **Testcontainers RabbitMQContainer** | Slow (~5s startup) | Highest (real broker) | Full integration tests, exchange/queue routing |
**Decision rule**: Use @SpringRabbitTest for unit-testing listeners in Spring context. Use Testcontainers for end-to-end message flow with real routing.
## Java/Spring: @SpringRabbitTest + RabbitListenerTestHarness
### Dependencies
```xml
<dependency>
<groupId>org.springframework.amqp</groupId>
<artifactId>spring-rabbit-test</artifactId>
<scope>test</scope>
</dependency>
```
### Spy Pattern — Verify Listener Called
```java
@SpringBootTest
@SpringRabbitTest
class OrderConsumerSpyTest {
@Autowired
private RabbitListenerTestHarness harness;
@Autowired
private RabbitTemplate rabbitTemplate;
@Test
void shouldInvokeListener() throws Exception {
OrderConsumer spy = harness.getSpy("orderListener");
assertThat(spy).isNotNull();
LatchCountDownAndCallRealMethodAnswer answer =
harness.getLatchAnswerFor("orderListener", 1);
rabbitTemplate.convertAndSend("orders.exchange", "orders.created",
new OrderEvent("123", "CREATED"));
assertThat(answer.await(10)).isTrue();
verify(spy).handleOrder(argThat(e -> e.getOrderId().equals("123")));
}
}
```
### Capture Pattern — Inspect Invocation Data
```java
@SpringBootTest
@SpringRabbitTest
class OrderConsumerCaptureTest {
@Autowired
private RabbitListenerTestHarness harness;
@Autowired
private RabbitTemplate rabbitTemplate;
@Test
void shouldCaptureInvocationData() throws Exception {
rabbitTemplate.convertAndSend("orders.exchange", "orders.created",
new OrderEvent("456", "PAID"));
InvocationData data = harness.getNextInvocationDataFor(
"orderListener", 10, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
assertThat(data).isNotNull();
OrderEvent captured = (OrderEvent) data.getArguments()[0];
assertThat(captured.getOrderId()).isEqualTo("456");
assertThat(captured.getStatus()).isEqualTo("PAID");
}
}
```
### Request-Reply Test
```java
@SpringBootTest
@SpringRabbitTest
class OrderServiceReplyTest {
@Autowired
private RabbitTemplate rabbitTemplate;
@Test
void shouldReturnOrderResponse() {
OrderRequest request = new OrderRequest("item-1", 2);
OrderResponse response = (OrderResponse) rabbitTemplate.convertSendAndReceive(
"orders.exchange", "orders.create", request);
assertThat(response).isNotNull();
assertThat(response.getStatus()).isEqualTo("CREATED");
}
}
```
## Java/Spring: TestRabbitTemplate
For testing without a running broker:
```java
@SpringBootTest
@SpringRabbitTest
class NoBrokerTest {
@Autowired
private TestRabbitTemplate testRabbitTemplate;
@Test
void shouldSendWithoutBroker() {
testRabbitTemplate.convertAndSend("orders.exchange", "orders.created",
new OrderEvent("789", "CREATED"));
// TestRabbitTemplate routes directly to @RabbitListener methods
// Verify side effects (database writes, service calls, etc.)
}
}
```
## Java/Spring: Testcontainers RabbitMQContainer
### With @ServiceConnection (Spring Boot 3.1+)
```java
@SpringBootTest
@Testcontainers
class RabbitIntegrationTest {
@Container
@ServiceConnection
static RabbitMQContainer rabbit = new RabbitMQContainer("rabbitmq:3.13-management");
@Autowired
private RabbitTemplate rabbitTemplate;
@Autowired
private OrderRepository orderRepository;
@Test
void shouldProduceAndConsumeOrder() {
rabbitTemplate.convertAndSend("orders.exchange", "orders.created",
new OrderEvent("123", "CREATED"));
await().atMost(Duration.ofSeconds(10))
.untilAsserted(() -> {
Optional<Order> order = orderRepository.findById("123");
assertThat(order).isPresent();
assertThat(order.get().getStatus()).isEqualTo("CREATED");
});
}
}
```
### Pre-Provisioned Exchanges and Queues
```java
static RabbitMQContainer rabbit = new RabbitMQContainer("rabbitmq:3.13-management")
.withExchange("orders.exchange", "direct")
.withQueue("orders.queue")
.withBinding("orders.exchange", "orders.queue",
Map.of(), "orders.created", "queue");
```
### With @DynamicPropertySource (pre-3.1)
```java
@DynamicPropertySource
static void rabbitProperties(DynamicPropertyRegistry registry) {
registry.add("spring.rabbitmq.host", rabbit::getHost);
registry.add("spring.rabbitmq.port", rabbit::getAmqpPort);
registry.add("spring.rabbitmq.username", rabbit::getAdminUsername);
registry.add("spring.rabbitmq.password", rabbit::getAdminPassword);
}
```
## Node.js: amqplib + Testcontainers
```typescript
import { RabbitMQContainer } from "@testcontainers/rabbitmq";
import amqp from "amqplib";
describe("RabbitMQ Integration", () => {
let container: StartedTestContainer;
let connection: amqp.Connection;
beforeAll(async () => {
container = await new RabbitMQContainer("rabbitmq:3.13-management").start();
connection = await amqp.connect(container.getAmqpUrl());
}, 60_000);
afterAll(async () => {
await connection.close();
await container.stop();
});
it("should produce and consume messages", async () => {
const channel = await connection.createChannel();
const queue = "test-queue";
await channel.assertQueue(queue, { durable: false });
const message = { orderId: "123", status: "CREATED" };
channel.sendToQueue(queue, Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(message)));
const received = await new Promise<any>((resolve) => {
channel.consume(queue, (msg) => {
if (msg) resolve(JSON.parse(msg.content.toString()));
});
});
expect(received.orderId).toBe("123");
await channel.close();
});
});
```
## Python: pika + Testcontainers
```python
import pytest
import pika
import json
from testcontainers.rabbitmq import RabbitMqContainer
@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
def rabbitmq():
with RabbitMqContainer("rabbitmq:3.13-management") as container:
yield container
def test_produce_and_consume(rabbitmq):
params = pika.ConnectionParameters(
host=rabbitmq.get_container_host_ip(),
port=rabbitmq.get_exposed_port(5672),
credentials=pika.PlainCredentials("guest", "guest"),
)
connection = pika.BlockingConnection(params)
channel = connection.channel()
channel.queue_declare(queue="test-queue")
message = {"orderId": "123", "status": "CREATED"}
channel.basic_publish(exchange="", routing_key="test-queue",
body=json.dumps(message))
method, props, body = channel.basic_get(queue="test-queue", auto_ack=True)
assert method is not None
assert json.loads(body)["orderId"] == "123"
connection.close()
```
## Anti-Patterns
| Anti-Pattern | Problem | Solution |
|--------------|---------|----------|
| Not using `@SpringRabbitTest` | Manual harness setup | Annotation auto-configures harness and template |
| Ignoring `InvocationData` timeout | Flaky or hanging tests | Always pass timeout to `getNextInvocationDataFor()` |
| Hardcoded exchange/queue names in tests | Coupling to production config | Use constants or test-specific names |
| No `await()` for async consumers | Assertions run before consumption | Use Awaitility or CountDownLatch |
| Starting broker per test method | Extremely slow | Use static container shared across tests |
## Quick Troubleshooting
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---------|-------|----------|
| Harness returns null spy | Listener ID mismatch | Verify `@RabbitListener(id = "...")` matches harness call |
| "No queue bound" error | Exchange/queue not declared | Use `@QueueBinding` or pre-provision in container |
| Message not received | Wrong routing key | Verify exchange type and binding key match |
| Connection refused in tests | Container not ready | Use `@ServiceConnection` or wait for port |
| TestRabbitTemplate silent failure | No listener found | Ensure `@RabbitListener` is in Spring context |
## Reference Documentation
- [Spring AMQP Testing](https://docs.spring.io/spring-amqp/reference/testing.html)
- [Testcontainers RabbitMQ Module](https://java.testcontainers.org/modules/rabbitmq/)
> **Cross-reference**: For Spring AMQP producer/consumer patterns, see `spring-amqp` skill. For generic Testcontainers patterns, see `testcontainers` skill.
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