Overriding global ordering

You can customize how RSpec orders examples and example groups. For an individual group, you can control it by tagging it with :order metadata:

• :defined runs the examples (and sub groups) in defined order
• :random runs them in random order

If you have more specialized needs, you can register your own ordering using the register_ordering configuration option. If you register an ordering as :global, it will be the global default, used by all groups that do not have :order metadata (and by RSpec to order the top-level groups).

Running a specific example group in order

Given a file named "order_dependent_spec.rb" with:

RSpec.describe "examples only pass when they are run in order", :order => :defined do
  before(:context) { @list = [] }

  it "passes when run first" do
    @list << 1
    expect(@list).to eq([1])
  end

  it "passes when run second" do
    @list << 2
    expect(@list).to eq([1, 2])
  end

  it "passes when run third" do
    @list << 3
    expect(@list).to eq([1, 2, 3])
  end
end

When I run rspec order_dependent_spec.rb --order random:1

Then the examples should all pass.

Registering a custom ordering

Given a file named "register_custom_ordering_spec.rb" with:

RSpec.configure do |rspec|
  rspec.register_ordering(:reverse) do |items|
    items.reverse
  end
end

RSpec.describe "A group that must run in reverse order", :order => :reverse do
  before(:context) { @list = [] }

  it "passes when run second" do
    @list << 2
    expect(@list).to eq([1, 2])
  end

  it "passes when run first" do
    @list << 1
    expect(@list).to eq([1])
  end
end

When I run rspec register_custom_ordering_spec.rb

Then the examples should all pass.

Using a custom global ordering

Given a file named "register_global_ordering_spec.rb" with:

RSpec.configure do |rspec|
  rspec.register_ordering(:global) do |items|
    items.reverse
  end
end

RSpec.describe "A group without :order metadata" do
  before(:context) { @list = [] }

  it "passes when run second" do
    @list << 2
    expect(@list).to eq([1, 2])
  end

  it "passes when run first" do
    @list << 1
    expect(@list).to eq([1])
  end
end

When I run rspec register_global_ordering_spec.rb

Then the examples should all pass.