### Stub return values obj.stub(:message) { :value } obj.stub(:message => :value) obj.stub(:message).and_return(:value) These forms are somewhat interchangeable. The difference is that the block contents are evaluated lazily when the `obj` receives the `message` message, whereas the others are evaluated as they are read. ### Fake implementation obj.stub(:message) do |arg1, arg2| # set expectations about the args in this block # and/or set a return value end ### Raising/Throwing obj.stub(:message).and_raise("this error") obj.stub(:message).and_throw(:this_symbol) You can also use the block format, for consistency with other stubs: obj.stub(:message) { raise "this error" } obj.stub(:message) { throw :this_symbol } ### Argument constraints #### Explicit arguments obj.stub(:message).with('an argument') { ... } obj.stub(:message).with('more_than', 'one_argument') { ... } #### Argument matchers obj.stub(:message).with(anything()) { ... } obj.stub(:message).with(an_instance_of(Money)) { ... } obj.stub(:message).with(hash_including(:a => 'b')) { ... } #### Regular expressions obj.stub(:message).with(/abc/) { ... }