Testing a Rails belongs_to model with Rspec -

i have profile model:

class profile < activerecord::base   belongs_to :user    def fields_needed_for_completion     [self.name, self.city]   end    def completed?     !fields_needed_for_completion.any? { |f| f.nil? || f == "" }   end end 

i trying determine how write unit tests model belongs_to association. in particular i'm not sure how setup data tests.

so far, i've put following:

describe profile    subject(:profile) { factorygirl.create(:profile) }    describe "fields_needed_for_completion"     context "with fields missing"       "returns fields nil"         expect(profile.fields_needed_for_completion.all? &:blank?).to true       end     end   end    describe "#completed?"     #to   end end 

two questions:

1. is fine use factorygirl create profile object instead of calling profile.create directly? there no attributes set in factory right (i.e., factory defined so: factory :profile do; end)

2. as can see, user model not used @ in these specs. appropriate unit test model in isolation this, though in practice belong user? or should somehow mock out user?

here's how see it:

1. yes, fine, in fact - you're using factorygirl intended. creating test objects through factories (as opposed explicitly calling model.create) allows reuse creation logic between multiple tests , have creation related logic in 1 place. means, example, if you'll add new mandatory (one validations) column model, you'll have adjust factory of model instead of fixing numerous model.create occurrences throughout tests.

2. your second question methodological , not technical it's more open interpetation, here's 2 cents: think makes sense test profile model both in isolation , in relation user. non user related logic can tested in isolation , user related logic can tested in context. note factorygirl allows set context quite defining user association in profile factory.