Project: RSpec Rails 2.9

Publisher: RSpec

helper spec

Helper specs live in spec/helpers, or any example group with :type => :helper.

Helper specs expose a helper object, which includes the helper module being
specified, the ApplicationHelper module (if there is one) and all of the
helpers built into Rails. It does not include the other helper modules in
your app.

To access the helper methods you're specifying, simply call them directly
on the helper object.

NOTE: helper methods defined in controllers are not included.

Scenarios

helper method that returns a value
helper method that accesses an instance variable
application helper is included in helper object

helper method that returns a value

Given

a file named "spec/helpers/application_helper_spec.rb" with:

require "spec_helper"

describe ApplicationHelper do
  describe "#page_title" do
    it "returns the default title" do
      helper.page_title.should eq("RSpec is your friend")
    end
  end
end

And

a file named "app/helpers/application_helper.rb" with:

module ApplicationHelper
  def page_title
    "RSpec is your friend"
  end
end

When

I run rspec spec/helpers/application_helper_spec.rb

Then

the examples should all pass

helper method that accesses an instance variable

Given

a file named "spec/helpers/application_helper_spec.rb" with:

require "spec_helper"

describe ApplicationHelper do
  describe "#page_title" do
    it "returns the instance variable" do
      assign(:title, "My Title")
      helper.page_title.should eql("My Title")
    end
  end
end

And

a file named "app/helpers/application_helper.rb" with:

module ApplicationHelper
  def page_title
    @title || nil
  end
end

When

I run rspec spec/helpers/application_helper_spec.rb

Then

the examples should all pass

application helper is included in helper object

Given

a file named "spec/helpers/widgets_helper_spec.rb" with:

require "spec_helper"

describe WidgetsHelper do
  describe "#page_title" do
    it "includes the app name" do
      assign(:title, "This Page")
      helper.page_title.should eq("The App: This Page")
    end
  end
end

And

a file named "app/helpers/application_helper.rb" with:

module ApplicationHelper
  def app_name
    "The App"
  end
end

And

a file named "app/helpers/widgets_helper.rb" with:

module WidgetsHelper
  def page_title
    "#{app_name}: #{@title}"
  end
end

When

I run rspec spec/helpers/widgets_helper_spec.rb

Then

the examples should all pass

Last published over 5 years ago by dchelimsky.

helper spec

RSpec Rails settings