---
title: Factory Bot step definitions for Cucumber
teaser:
tags: web,testing,ruby,factory_girl,factory_bot
author: Dan Croak
published_on: 2009-12-15
---

Did you know... Factory Bot includes some steps for your integration testing
pleasure? They are currently available but remain relatively unknown.

Read the source at
[`features/step_definitions/factory_bot_steps.rb`](https://github.com/thoughtbot/factory_bot/blob/main/features/step_definitions/factory_bot_steps.rb).
They make Direct Model Access a little easier from your Cucumber features.

<object width="425" height="344">
  <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6GyOgVFDocs&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"
    />
  <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6GyOgVFDocs&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"
    type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" />
</object>

## Example usage

Define your factories normally in `test/factories.rb` or `spec/factories.rb`:

    Factory.define :user do |user|
      user.email                 { Factory.next(:email) }
      user.password              { "password" }
      user.password_confirmation { "password" }
    end

    Factory.define :author, :parent => :user do |author|
      author.after(:create) { |a| Factory(:article, :author => a) }
    end

    Factory.define :recruiter, :parent => :user do |recruiter|
      recruiter.is_recruiter { true }
    end

Make sure Factory Bot is available in your `config/environments/cucumber.rb`:

    config.gem 'factory_bot', :version => '>= 1.2.3'

Require Factory Bot's step definitions in `features/support/env.rb`:

    require 'factory_bot/step_definitions'

Then, write Cucumber features using the simple "create record" step:

    Given a user exists

... or the "create record & set one attribute" step:

    Given an author exists with an email of "author@example.com"

... or the "create record & set multiple attributes" step:

    Given the following recruiter exists:
      | email            | phone number | employer name |
      | bill@example.com | 1234567890   | thoughtbot    |

## Avoid boilerplate

These steps will be available for all your factories, so stop writing
boilerplate steps and shake what Factory Bot gave you.

* * *

**Disclaimer:**

Looking for FactoryGirl? The library was renamed in 2017.
[Project name history can be found here.](https://github.com/thoughtbot/factory_bot/blob/master/NAME.md)