pytest-socket
Pytest Plugin to disable socket calls during tests
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. This is a focused, well-maintained tool with low install friction and no security issues. It solves a real problem—preventing accidental network calls in tests—and integrates cleanly with pytest via CLI flags, config, or fixtures. The MIT license is permissive and the active maintenance (recent release, active repo) makes it reliable for production test suites.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or greater and pytest 7.0 or greater.
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with only pytest as a runtime dependency.
- Actively maintained with a recent release; last commit 2026-08-11 and 342 repository stars indicate ongoing support.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license (permissive) means you can use, modify, and distribute this plugin freely in commercial and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2026-05-21 (85 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-11 · 342 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 13,881,633 downloads/mo, #1,260 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pytest-socket
# In pytest.ini or setup.cfg:
[pytest]
addopts = --disable-socket
# Or in conftest.py:
from pytest_socket import disable_socket
def pytest_runtest_setup():
disable_socket()- Whether the plugin works with pytest plugins that also patch socket at module or session scope.
- Performance overhead of socket interception across large test suites.
- Compatibility with async testing frameworks beyond the documented Unix socket support.
What it is and what it does
pytest-socket is a pytest plugin that intercepts Python's socket interface to prevent network calls during test execution. It works by globally disabling socket access or by restricting connections to an allowlist of specific hosts, IP addresses, or CIDR ranges. You can apply these restrictions via CLI flags (like `--disable-socket`), pytest configuration files, or per-test via fixtures and markers.
The plugin is useful for ensuring tests remain isolated and deterministic by catching accidental or unintended network dependencies. It supports selective allowlisting, Unix domain socket access for async testing, and per-test overrides. The plugin has been actively maintained since 2017 and supports Python 3.10 through 3.14.
Use it for
- Catch tests that accidentally make real HTTP requests to external APIs instead of using mocks.
- Enforce network isolation in CI/CD pipelines to ensure tests don't depend on external services.
- Allow specific tests to connect to localhost or a test server while blocking all other network access.
- Verify that async code using Unix domain sockets works correctly while blocking TCP/UDP calls.
- Prevent DNS resolution during tests to catch hardcoded hostnames or missing mock setup.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
This is a focused, well-maintained tool with low install friction and no security issues. It solves a real problem—preventing accidental network calls in tests—and integrates cleanly with pytest via CLI flags, config, or fixtures. The MIT license is permissive and the active maintenance (recent release, active repo) makes it reliable for production test suites.
Install
pytest-socket on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with only pytest as a runtime dependency. Actively maintained with a recent release; last commit 2026-08-11 and 342 repository stars indicate ongoing support.
Requires Python 3.10 or greater and pytest 7.0 or greater.
License in practice
MIT license (permissive) means you can use, modify, and distribute this plugin freely in commercial and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install pytest-socket
# In pytest.ini or setup.cfg:
[pytest]
addopts = --disable-socket
# Or in conftest.py:
from pytest_socket import disable_socket
def pytest_runtest_setup():
disable_socket()Verify before relying
- Whether the plugin works with pytest plugins that also patch socket at module or session scope.
- Performance overhead of socket interception across large test suites.
- Compatibility with async testing frameworks beyond the documented Unix socket support.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagepytest |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 85 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 13,881,633 / month, #1,260 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaFramework :: PytestIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonTopic :: Software Development :: TestingTyping :: Typed |
Evidence: pytest_socket-0.8.0-py3-none-any.whl
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