TestBed.configureTestingModule({ declarations: [ DashboardHeroComponent ] }) fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DashboardHeroComponent); comp = fixture.componentInstance; // find the hero's DebugElement and element heroDe = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.hero')); heroEl = heroDe.nativeElement; // mock the hero supplied by the parent component expectedHero = { id: 42, name: 'Test Name' }; // simulate the parent setting the input property with that hero comp.hero = expectedHero; // trigger initial data binding fixture.detectChanges();