Angularjs: Should I use mocks when Unit Testing a REST API dependent app? -

there quite bit of ambiguities i've found when researching topic of mocks, stubs, & spies within angularjs unit testing.

i need straightforward answer how , why supposed implement unit tests proper way (if there one) on rest-dependent application.

do have use mocks when testing, or stubbing/spying suitable?

is there difference between spying , stubbing?

when mock http request, need separate mock function using particular http request?

how modularized tests need be?

take unit test example, using karma-jasmine testing framework:

    describe('put request & edituser() test', function() {          beforeeach(function() {             $httpbackend.whenput('http://localhost:24149/users/:id');         });          it('should put request server', function() {              $httpbackend.expect('get', 'http://localhost:24149/users').respond();                $scope.userslist[0] = user;             $scope.selecteduser = 0;              firstname =  user.firstname;             lastname = user.lastname;             phone = '222-222-2222';             email = user.email;             _id = 0001;               $scope.newuseredittest = {_id, firstname, lastname, phone, email};              $httpbackend.expect('put', 'http://localhost:24149/users/1').respond();               $httpbackend.expect('get', 'templates/userprofile.html').respond();             $httpbackend.expect('get', 'templates/userslist.html').respond();             $scope.edituser($scope.newuseredittest);              $httpbackend.flush();              expect($scope.userslist[0].phone).toequal('222-222-2222');             dump("put success: " + user.firstname + "'s phone number changed " + user.phone + " " + $scope.userslist[0].phone);          });     }); 

i've been criticized test because testing put request, , edituser() function (which indirectly calls put request). wouldn't make sense test function while mocking rest requests?

if not best method, have write seperate mock service put request lies?

i assume mocks best practice when comes targeted individual units alone, have still seen examples without mocks, or spies (or stubs) , mocks , don't understand method best practice.