Rspec stubbing method for only specific arguments

Question

Is there a way to stub method for only specific arguments. Something like this

boss.stub(:fire!).with(employee1).and_return(true)

If any other employee is passed to boss.fire! method, I'll get boss received unexpected message error, but what I would really like is just to override the method for specific argument, and leave it be for all others.

Any ideas how this can be done?

score 81 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 15 '16 at 07:52

81

You can add a default stub for the fire! method which will call original implementation:

boss.stub(:fire!).and_call_original
boss.stub(:fire!).with(employee1).and_return(true)

Rspec 3 Syntax (@pk-nb)

allow(boss).to receive(:fire!).and_call_original
allow(boss).to receive(:fire!).with(employee1).and_return(true)

edited Aug 15 '16 at 07:52

lulalala

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answered Nov 15 '13 at 14:33

Andrey Chernih

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12

Same thing with RSpec 3 syntax: `allow(boss).to receive(:fire!).and_call_original allow(boss).to receive(:fire!).with(employee1).and_return(true)` – pk-nb May 07 '15 at 17:31
Note that, you cannot combine one generic `allow` with one specific `expect`. – lulalala Jan 13 '20 at 09:15

kr00lix · Answer 2 · 2012-07-24T04:58:04.363

4

You can try write your own stubbing method, with code like this

fire_method = boss.method(:fire!)
boss.stub!(:fire!) do |employee|  
  if employee == employee1
    true
  else
    fire_method.call(*args)
  end
end

edited Jul 24 '12 at 04:58

answered Jul 24 '12 at 04:20

kr00lix

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Rspec stubbing method for only specific arguments

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