Setting a session value through RSpec

Question

My current code looks like this:

/spec/support/spec_test_helper.rb

module SpecTestHelper
  def login_admin
    user = FactoryGirl.create(:user, type: 0)
    session[:user_id] = user.id
  end
end

/app/controllers/application_controller.rb

def current_user
  if session[:user_id].nil?
    render plain: 'Error', status: :unauthorized
  else
    @current_user ||= User.find(session[:user_id])
  end
end

Unfortunately, session is always empty in the current_user method. Is there a way of controlling the session through RSpec?

weird you dont have to do anything else then. (github.com/rails/rails/blob/…) — apneadiving
– apneadiving, Commented May 26, 2015 at 15:39
Could it be that I'm doing the check in a before_action filter? — Sebastian
– Sebastian, Commented May 26, 2015 at 15:46

Aaron K · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-26 21:25:10Z

5

This will change based on the spec type. For example, a feature spec will not allow you to directly modify the session. However, a controller spec will.

You will need to include the helper methods module into your example group. Say you have a WidgetsController:

require 'support/spec_test_helper'

RSpec.describe WidgetsController, type: :controller do
  include SpecTestHelper

  context "when not logged in" do
    it "the request is unauthorized" do
      get :index
      expect(response).to have_http_status(:unauthorized)
    end
  end

  context "when logged in" do
    before do
      login_admin
    end

    it "lists the user's widgets" do
      # ...
    end
  end
end

You can also automatically include the module into all specs, or specific specs by using metadata.

I often do this by adding the configuration changes into the file which defines the helper methods:

/spec/support/spec_test_helper.rb

module SpecTestHelper
  def login_admin
    user = FactoryGirl.create(:user, type: 0)
    session[:user_id] = user.id
  end
end

RSpec.configure do |config|
  config.include SpecTestHelper, type: :controller
end

edited May 26, 2015 at 21:25

answered May 26, 2015 at 21:18

Aaron K

6,9913 gold badges36 silver badges29 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

nacho c Over a year ago

I had the same issue and it didn't help me, I am getting the same error. "undefined local variable or method `session' for #<RSpec::ExampleGroups:"

nacho c Over a year ago

You should include require 'rails_helper' to the SpecTestHelper

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Setting a session value through RSpec

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related