faker vs chance vs @anatine/zod-mock vs mockjs
JavaScript Mock Data Libraries Comparison
1 Year
fakerchance@anatine/zod-mockmockjsSimilar Packages:
What's JavaScript Mock Data Libraries?

Mock data libraries are essential tools in web development, allowing developers to generate fake data for testing and development purposes. These libraries help simulate real-world scenarios without the need for actual data, making it easier to test applications, create prototypes, and ensure that user interfaces behave as expected. They can generate various types of data, including names, addresses, dates, and even complex objects, which can be crucial for front-end development, API testing, and database seeding.

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faker2,205,899-10.1 MB--MIT
chance1,894,4306,5102.13 MB1768 months agoMIT
@anatine/zod-mock222,26870655.8 kB74a month agoMIT
mockjs63,71719,573-3405 years ago-
Feature Comparison: faker vs chance vs @anatine/zod-mock vs mockjs

Data Generation Flexibility

  • faker:

    Faker excels in generating realistic and locale-specific data, making it a go-to choice for applications that require diverse datasets. It provides a rich set of features, including the ability to generate data in multiple languages, which is beneficial for international applications.

  • chance:

    Chance offers a wide range of data types and customization options, allowing developers to generate everything from simple strings to complex objects. Its flexibility makes it suitable for various use cases, from quick tests to more elaborate data generation needs.

  • @anatine/zod-mock:

    @anatine/zod-mock generates data based on Zod schemas, allowing for strict adherence to defined structures. This ensures that the mock data is not only random but also valid according to the rules set in the schema, making it ideal for type-safe applications.

  • mockjs:

    Mock.js allows for the creation of dynamic mock data based on defined templates. This means you can simulate different scenarios by altering the response structure, making it highly adaptable for various testing situations.

Ease of Use

  • faker:

    Faker has a slightly steeper learning curve due to its extensive features, but once familiar, developers can leverage its capabilities to generate complex datasets efficiently. The documentation is comprehensive, aiding in the learning process.

  • chance:

    Chance is known for its simplicity and ease of use. Its API is intuitive, making it easy for developers to start generating random data quickly without a steep learning curve.

  • @anatine/zod-mock:

    @anatine/zod-mock is straightforward to use for those already familiar with Zod. It integrates seamlessly with Zod schemas, allowing for quick mock data generation without additional setup.

  • mockjs:

    Mock.js requires some understanding of how to set up routes and responses, which may introduce complexity for beginners. However, once set up, it provides powerful capabilities for simulating API interactions.

Localization Support

  • faker:

    Faker provides extensive localization support, allowing developers to generate data that reflects the cultural context of different regions. This is particularly useful for applications targeting international markets.

  • chance:

    Chance supports localization by allowing developers to specify different locales, enabling the generation of culturally relevant data, such as names and addresses that fit specific regions.

  • @anatine/zod-mock:

    @anatine/zod-mock does not focus on localization as it primarily generates data based on Zod schemas, which are not locale-specific.

  • mockjs:

    Mock.js does not inherently support localization, as it focuses on mocking API responses rather than generating locale-specific data.

Integration with Testing Frameworks

  • faker:

    Faker is widely used in testing environments due to its ability to generate realistic data quickly. It can be easily integrated with testing frameworks like Jest or Mocha, making it a popular choice among developers.

  • chance:

    Chance can be easily integrated into various testing frameworks, providing random data generation for unit tests and integration tests, enhancing test coverage and reliability.

  • @anatine/zod-mock:

    @anatine/zod-mock integrates well with testing frameworks that utilize Zod for validation, making it a great choice for projects that prioritize type safety and schema validation in tests.

  • mockjs:

    Mock.js is particularly useful for integration testing, as it allows developers to simulate API responses and test how their applications handle different scenarios without needing a live backend.

Performance

  • faker:

    Faker can be slower than Chance due to its extensive features and data generation capabilities, but it provides realistic data that may justify the performance trade-off in many applications.

  • chance:

    Chance is lightweight and designed for performance, making it suitable for generating large amounts of random data quickly without significant overhead.

  • @anatine/zod-mock:

    @anatine/zod-mock performs efficiently when generating data that adheres to schemas, but performance may vary based on the complexity of the schemas defined.

  • mockjs:

    Mock.js performance is generally good, but can be impacted by the complexity of the defined routes and responses. Careful design of mock APIs can help maintain performance during development.

How to Choose: faker vs chance vs @anatine/zod-mock vs mockjs
  • faker:

    Opt for Faker if you require a comprehensive and feature-rich library for generating realistic fake data. Faker supports multiple locales and provides a vast array of data types, making it suitable for applications that need diverse and realistic datasets for testing or development.

  • chance:

    Select Chance if you need a lightweight library that offers a wide variety of random data generation options. It is easy to use and provides a simple API for generating everything from names to addresses to custom data types, making it ideal for quick mock data generation without heavy dependencies.

  • @anatine/zod-mock:

    Choose @anatine/zod-mock if you are using Zod for schema validation and want to generate mock data that adheres to your defined schemas. This package is particularly useful for ensuring that your mock data is consistent with the expected structure of your application.

  • mockjs:

    Use Mock.js if you want to create a mock server and intercept AJAX requests. This library allows you to define routes and responses, making it perfect for simulating API responses during development. Mock.js is particularly useful for front-end developers who need to work with APIs that are not yet available.

README for faker

faker.js - generate massive amounts of fake data in the browser and node.js

Faker.js

Build Status Coverage Status

npm version

OpenCollective OpenCollective Gitter chat

Demo

https://rawgit.com/Marak/faker.js/master/examples/browser/index.html

Faker Cloud

Don't have a local development setup ready?

Try our hosted version of Faker at https://fakercloud.com/api

https://github.com/faker/faker-cloud

Usage

Browser

    <script src = "faker.js" type = "text/javascript"></script>
    <script>
      var randomName = faker.name.findName(); // Caitlyn Kerluke
      var randomEmail = faker.internet.email(); // Rusty@arne.info
      var randomCard = faker.helpers.createCard(); // random contact card containing many properties
    </script>

Node.js

    var faker = require('faker');

    var randomName = faker.name.findName(); // Rowan Nikolaus
    var randomEmail = faker.internet.email(); // Kassandra.Haley@erich.biz
    var randomCard = faker.helpers.createCard(); // random contact card containing many properties

API

JSDoc API Browser

http://marak.github.io/faker.js/

API Methods

  • address
    • zipCode
    • zipCodeByState
    • city
    • cityPrefix
    • citySuffix
    • cityName
    • streetName
    • streetAddress
    • streetSuffix
    • streetPrefix
    • secondaryAddress
    • county
    • country
    • countryCode
    • state
    • stateAbbr
    • latitude
    • longitude
    • direction
    • cardinalDirection
    • ordinalDirection
    • nearbyGPSCoordinate
    • timeZone
  • animal
    • dog
    • cat
    • snake
    • bear
    • lion
    • cetacean
    • horse
    • bird
    • cow
    • fish
    • crocodilia
    • insect
    • rabbit
    • type
  • commerce
    • color
    • department
    • productName
    • price
    • productAdjective
    • productMaterial
    • product
    • productDescription
  • company
    • suffixes
    • companyName
    • companySuffix
    • catchPhrase
    • bs
    • catchPhraseAdjective
    • catchPhraseDescriptor
    • catchPhraseNoun
    • bsAdjective
    • bsBuzz
    • bsNoun
  • database
    • column
    • type
    • collation
    • engine
  • datatype
    • number
    • float
    • datetime
    • string
    • uuid
    • boolean
    • hexaDecimal
    • json
    • array
  • date
    • past
    • future
    • between
    • betweens
    • recent
    • soon
    • month
    • weekday
  • fake
  • finance
    • account
    • accountName
    • routingNumber
    • mask
    • amount
    • transactionType
    • currencyCode
    • currencyName
    • currencySymbol
    • bitcoinAddress
    • litecoinAddress
    • creditCardNumber
    • creditCardCVV
    • ethereumAddress
    • iban
    • bic
    • transactionDescription
  • git
    • branch
    • commitEntry
    • commitMessage
    • commitSha
    • shortSha
  • hacker
    • abbreviation
    • adjective
    • noun
    • verb
    • ingverb
    • phrase
  • helpers
    • randomize
    • slugify
    • replaceSymbolWithNumber
    • replaceSymbols
    • replaceCreditCardSymbols
    • repeatString
    • regexpStyleStringParse
    • shuffle
    • mustache
    • createCard
    • contextualCard
    • userCard
    • createTransaction
  • image
    • image
    • avatar
    • imageUrl
    • abstract
    • animals
    • business
    • cats
    • city
    • food
    • nightlife
    • fashion
    • people
    • nature
    • sports
    • technics
    • transport
    • dataUri
    • lorempixel
    • unsplash
    • lorempicsum
  • internet
    • avatar
    • email
    • exampleEmail
    • userName
    • protocol
    • httpMethod
    • url
    • domainName
    • domainSuffix
    • domainWord
    • ip
    • ipv6
    • port
    • userAgent
    • color
    • mac
    • password
  • lorem
    • word
    • words
    • sentence
    • slug
    • sentences
    • paragraph
    • paragraphs
    • text
    • lines
  • mersenne
    • rand
    • seed
    • seed_array
  • music
    • genre
  • name
    • firstName
    • lastName
    • middleName
    • findName
    • jobTitle
    • gender
    • prefix
    • suffix
    • title
    • jobDescriptor
    • jobArea
    • jobType
  • phone
    • phoneNumber
    • phoneNumberFormat
    • phoneFormats
  • random
    • number
    • float
    • arrayElement
    • arrayElements
    • objectElement
    • uuid
    • boolean
    • word
    • words
    • image
    • locale
    • alpha
    • alphaNumeric
    • hexaDecimal
  • system
    • fileName
    • commonFileName
    • mimeType
    • commonFileType
    • commonFileExt
    • fileType
    • fileExt
    • directoryPath
    • filePath
    • semver
  • time
    • recent
  • unique
  • vehicle
    • vehicle
    • manufacturer
    • model
    • type
    • fuel
    • vin
    • color
    • vrm
    • bicycle

Faker.fake()

faker.js contains a super useful generator method Faker.fake for combining faker API methods using a mustache string format.

Example:

console.log(faker.fake("{{name.lastName}}, {{name.firstName}} {{name.suffix}}"));
// outputs: "Marks, Dean Sr."

This will interpolate the format string with the value of methods name.lastName(), name.firstName(), and name.suffix()

Localization

As of version v2.0.0 faker.js has support for multiple localities.

The default language locale is set to English.

Setting a new locale is simple:

// sets locale to de
faker.locale = "de";
  • az
  • ar
  • cz
  • de
  • de_AT
  • de_CH
  • en
  • en_AU
  • en_AU_ocker
  • en_BORK
  • en_CA
  • en_GB
  • en_IE
  • en_IND
  • en_US
  • en_ZA
  • es
  • es_MX
  • fa
  • fi
  • fr
  • fr_CA
  • fr_CH
  • ge
  • hy
  • hr
  • id_ID
  • it
  • ja
  • ko
  • nb_NO
  • ne
  • nl
  • nl_BE
  • pl
  • pt_BR
  • pt_PT
  • ro
  • ru
  • sk
  • sv
  • tr
  • uk
  • vi
  • zh_CN
  • zh_TW

Individual Localization Packages

faker.js supports incremental loading of locales.

By default, requiring faker will include all locale data.

In a production environment, you may only want to include the locale data for a specific set of locales.

// loads only de locale
var faker = require('faker/locale/de');

Setting a randomness seed

If you want consistent results, you can set your own seed:

faker.seed(123);

var firstRandom = faker.datatype.number();

// Setting the seed again resets the sequence.
faker.seed(123);

var secondRandom = faker.datatype.number();

console.log(firstRandom === secondRandom);

Tests

npm install .
make test

You can view a code coverage report generated in coverage/lcov-report/index.html.

Building faker.js

faker uses gulp to automate its build process. Each build operation is a separate task which can be run independently.

Browser Bundle

npm run browser

Building JSDocs

JSDOC v3 HTML API documentation

npm run jsdoc

Building ReadMe

The ReadMe.md file for faker.js is automatically generated and should not be modified directly. All updates to ReadMe.md should be performed in ./build/src/docs.md and then the build script should be run.

npm run readme

Version Release Schedule

faker.js is a popular project used by many organizations and individuals in production settings. Major and Minor version releases are generally on a monthly schedule. Bugs fixes are addressed by severity and fixed as soon as possible.

If you require the absolute latest version of faker.js the master branch @ http://github.com/marak/faker.js/ should always be up to date and working.

Maintainer

Marak Squires

faker.js - Copyright (c) 2020 Marak Squires www.marak.com http://github.com/marak/faker.js/

faker.js was inspired by and has used data definitions from:

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

Backers

Support us with a monthly donation and help us continue our activities. [Become a backer]

Sponsors

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