Feature: let and let! Use `let` to define a memoized helper method. The value will be cached across multiple calls in the same example but not across examples. Note that `let` is lazy-evaluated: it is not evaluated until the first time the method it defines is invoked. You can use `let!` to force the method's invocation before each example. Scenario: use let to define memoized helper method Given a file named "let_spec.rb" with: """ $count = 0 describe "let" do let(:count) { $count += 1 } it "memoizes the value" do count.should eq(1) count.should eq(1) end it "is not cached across examples" do count.should eq(2) end end """ When I run `rspec let_spec.rb` Then the examples should all pass Scenario: use let! to define a memoized helper method that is called in a before hook Given a file named "let_bang_spec.rb" with: """ $count = 0 describe "let!" do invocation_order = [] let!(:count) do invocation_order << :let! $count += 1 end it "calls the helper method in a before hook" do invocation_order << :example invocation_order.should == [:let!, :example] count.should eq(1) end end """ When I run `rspec let_bang_spec.rb` Then the examples should all pass