rspec-model-testing

name	rspec-model-testing
description	Write RSpec tests for ActiveRecord models including validations, associations, scopes, and model methods. Use when testing model behavior, data integrity rules, or creating model specs following TDD.

RSpec Model Testing Specialist

Specialized in writing comprehensive model specs for ActiveRecord models.

When to Use This Skill

• Testing model validations (presence, format, uniqueness)
• Testing model associations (belongs_to, has_many, has_one)
• Testing scopes and query methods
• Testing model instance and class methods
• Testing callbacks
• Creating model specs before implementation (TDD)

Core Principles

• Test First: Write model specs before implementing model logic
• Comprehensive Coverage: Test all validations, associations, and methods
• Edge Cases: Test boundary conditions and error cases
• Independence: Each test should be independent
• Clear Intent: Test names describe expected behavior

Model Spec Structure

# spec/models/user_spec.rb
require 'rails_helper'

RSpec.describe User, type: :model do
    describe 'validations' do
        # Validation tests
    end

    describe 'associations' do
        # Association tests
    end

    describe 'scopes' do
        # Scope tests
    end

    describe 'instance methods' do
        # Instance method tests
    end

    describe 'class methods' do
        # Class method tests
    end

    describe 'callbacks' do
        # Callback tests
    end
end

Testing Validations

Using Shoulda Matchers

describe 'validations' do
    # Presence
    it { should validate_presence_of(:email) }
    it { should validate_presence_of(:name) }

    # Uniqueness
    it { should validate_uniqueness_of(:email).case_insensitive }

    # Length
    it { should validate_length_of(:password).is_at_least(8) }
    it { should validate_length_of(:username).is_at_most(20) }

    # Format
    it { should allow_value('[e-mail]').for(:email) }
    it { should_not allow_value('invalid').for(:email) }

    # Numericality
    it { should validate_numericality_of(:age).is_greater_than(0) }
end

Custom Validation Tests

describe 'validations' do
    it 'validates email format' do
        user = build(:user, email: 'invalid')
        expect(user).not_to be_valid
        expect(user.errors[:email]).to include('is invalid')
    end

    it 'validates password complexity' do
        user = build(:user, password: 'simple')
        expect(user).not_to be_valid
        expect(user.errors[:password]).to include('must include uppercase, lowercase, and number')
    end

    it 'is valid with valid attributes' do
        user = build(:user)
        expect(user).to be_valid
    end

    it 'is invalid without email' do
        user = build(:user, email: nil)
        expect(user).not_to be_valid
        expect(user.errors[:email]).to include("can't be blank")
    end
end

Testing Associations

Using Shoulda Matchers

describe 'associations' do
    it { should belong_to(:organization) }
    it { should have_many(:posts).dependent(:destroy) }
    it { should have_many(:comments).through(:posts) }
    it { should have_one(:profile).dependent(:destroy) }
    it { should have_and_belong_to_many(:tags) }
end

Custom Association Tests

describe 'associations' do
    it 'deletes associated posts when user is deleted' do
        user = create(:user)
        create_list(:post, 3, user: user)

        expect { user.destroy }.to change(Post, :count).by(-3)
    end

    it 'can have multiple comments through posts' do
        user = create(:user)
        post = create(:post, user: user)
        create_list(:comment, 2, post: post)

        expect(user.comments.count).to eq(2)
    end
end

Testing Scopes

describe 'scopes' do
    describe '.active' do
        it 'returns only active users' do
            active_user = create(:user, active: true)
            inactive_user = create(:user, active: false)

            expect(User.active).to include(active_user)
            expect(User.active).not_to include(inactive_user)
        end
    end

    describe '.by_role' do
        it 'returns users with specified role' do
            admin = create(:user, role: 'admin')
            guest = create(:user, role: 'guest')

            expect(User.by_role('admin')).to include(admin)
            expect(User.by_role('admin')).not_to include(guest)
        end
    end

    describe '.recent' do
        it 'orders users by creation date descending' do
            old_user = create(:user, created_at: 2.days.ago)
            new_user = create(:user, created_at: 1.day.ago)

            expect(User.recent.first).to eq(new_user)
            expect(.recent.last).to eq(old_user)
        
    

Testing Instance Methods

describe '#full_name' do
    it 'returns first and last name combined' do
        user = build(:user, first_name: 'John', last_name: 'Doe')
        expect(user.full_name).to eq('John Doe')
    end

    it 'handles missing last name' do
        user = build(:user, first_name: 'John', last_name: nil)
        expect(user.full_name).to eq('John')
    end

    it 'handles missing first name' do
        user = build(:user, first_name: nil, last_name: 'Doe')
        expect(user.full_name).to eq('Doe')
    end
end

describe '#activate!' do
    it 'sets active to true' do
        user = create(:user, active: false)

        expect { user.activate! }
            .to change { user.active }.from(false).to(true)
    end

    it 'sets activated_at timestamp' do
        user = create(:user, active: false)

        expect { user.activate! }
            .to change { user.activated_at }.from(nil)
    end
end

Testing Class Methods

describe '.find_by_email_case_insensitive' do
    it 'finds user regardless of email case' do
        user = create(:user, email: '[e-mail]')

        found = User.find_by_email_case_insensitive('[e-mail]')
        expect(found).to eq(user)
    end

    it 'returns nil when user not found' do
        found = User.find_by_email_case_insensitive('[e-mail]')
        expect(found).to be_nil
    end
end

describe '.search' do
    it 'finds users by name or email' do
        user1 = create(:user, name: 'John Doe', email: '[e-mail]')
        user2 = create(:user, name: 'Jane Smith', email: '[e-mail]')

        results = User.search('John')
        expect(results).to include(user1)
        expect(results).not_to include(user2)
    end
end

Testing Callbacks

describe 'callbacks' do
    describe 'before_save' do
        it 'normalizes email before saving' do
            user = create(:user, email: '[e-mail]')
            expect(user.email).to eq('[e-mail]')
        end

        it 'strips whitespace from name' do
            user = create(:user, name: '  John Doe  ')
            expect(user.name).to eq('John Doe')
        end
    end

    describe 'after_create' do
        it 'sends welcome email after user creation' do
            expect {
                create(:user)
            }.to have_enqueued_job(WelcomeEmailJob)
        end
    end

    describe 'before_destroy' do
        it 'archives user data before destroying' do
            user = create(:user)
            expect(UserArchiveService).to receive(:archive).with(user)
            user.destroy
        end
    end
end

Testing Custom Validators

describe 'custom validators' do
    it 'validates business email domain' do
        user = build(:user, email: '[e-mail]')
        expect(user).not_to be_valid
        expect(user.errors[:email]).to include('must be a company email')
    end

    it 'accepts valid business email' do
        user = build(:user, email: '[e-mail]')
        expect(user).to be_valid
    end
end

Testing Enums

describe 'enums' do
    it { should define_enum_for(:status).with_values([:pending, :active, :suspended]) }

    it 'defaults to pending status' do
        user = create(:user)
        expect(user.status).to eq('pending')
    end

    it 'can transition between statuses' do
        user = create(:user, status: :pending)
        user.active!
        expect(user.status).to eq('active')
    end
end

Tools to Use

• Write: Create new model spec files
• Edit: Update existing model specs
• Read: Read model implementation
• Bash: Run model specs
• mcp__serena__find_symbol: Find model definitions

Bash Commands

# Run all model specs
bundle exec rspec spec/models

# Run specific model spec
bundle exec rspec spec/models/user_spec.rb

# Run with documentation format
bundle exec rspec spec/models/user_spec.rb --format documentation

Workflow

1. Understand Model Requirements: Clarify expected validations and behavior
2. Write Failing Tests: Create specs for all model features
3. Run Tests: Confirm tests fail correctly
4. Commit Tests: Commit test code
5. Implementation: Use rails-model-design skill for implementation
6. Verify Tests Pass: Run tests after implementation
7. Refactor: Improve model and tests if needed

Related Skills

• rails-model-design: For implementing models
• rails-query-optimization: For testing query performance
• rails-state-machines: For testing state transitions

RSpec Fundamentals

See RSpec Testing Fundamentals for matchers, mocking, and structure.

FactoryBot Guide

See FactoryBot Guide for creating test data.

TDD Workflow

Follow TDD Workflow

Key Reminders

• Write tests before implementing model logic
• Test all validations comprehensively
• Test associations and dependent behaviors
• Test scopes with real data
• Test callbacks and their side effects
• Use FactoryBot for test data
• Keep tests independent
• Test edge cases and error conditions
• Use shoulda-matchers for common validations
• Run tests frequently during development