# before\_record hook

The `before_record` hook is called before a cassette is written to disk. This can be used to modify the HTTP interaction before it is recorded.

Your block should accept up to 2 arguments. The first argument will be the HTTP interaction that is about to be written to disk. The second argument will be the current cassette.

If you wish to prevent VCR from recording the HTTP interaction you can call `#ignore!` on the interaction.

If you don't want your hook to apply to all cassettes, you can use tags to select which cassettes a given hook applies to. Consider this code:

```
  VCR.configure do |c|
    c.before_record(:twitter) { ... } # modify the interactions somehow
  end

  VCR.use_cassette('cassette_1', :tag => :twitter) { ... }
  VCR.use_cassette('cassette_2') { ... }
```

In this example, the hook would apply to the first cassette but not the second cassette.

## Modify recorded response

*Given* a file named "before\_record\_example.rb" with:

```
$server = start_sinatra_app do
  get('/') { "Hello Earth" }
end

require 'vcr'

VCR.configure do |c|
  c.hook_into :webmock
  c.cassette_library_dir = 'cassettes'

  c.before_record do |i|
    i.response.body.sub!('Earth', 'World')
  end
end

VCR.use_cassette('recording_example') do
  Net::HTTP.get_response('localhost', '/', $server.port)
end
```

*When* I run `ruby before_record_example.rb`

*Then* the file "cassettes/recording\_example.yml" should contain "Hello World"

*And* the file "cassettes/recording\_example.yml" should not contain "Earth".

## Modify recorded response based on the cassette

*Given* a file named "before\_record\_example.rb" with:

```
$server = start_sinatra_app do
  get('/') { "Hello Earth" }
end

require 'vcr'

VCR.configure do |c|
  c.hook_into :webmock
  c.cassette_library_dir = 'cassettes'

  c.before_record do |interaction, cassette|
    interaction.response.body << " (#{cassette.name})"
  end
end

VCR.use_cassette('recording_example') do
  Net::HTTP.get_response('localhost', '/', $server.port)
end
```

*When* I run `ruby before_record_example.rb`

*Then* the file "cassettes/recording\_example.yml" should contain "Hello Earth (recording\_example)".

## Prevent recording by ignoring interaction in before\_record hook

*Given* a file named "before\_record\_ignore.rb" with:

```
$server = start_sinatra_app do
  get('/') { "Hello World" }
end

require 'vcr'

VCR.configure do |c|
  c.hook_into :webmock
  c.cassette_library_dir = 'cassettes'
  c.before_record { |i| i.ignore! }
end

VCR.use_cassette('recording_example') do
  response = Net::HTTP.get_response('localhost', '/', $server.port)
  puts "Response: #{response.body}"
end
```

*When* I run `ruby before_record_ignore.rb`

*Then* it should pass with "Response: Hello World"

*And* the file "cassettes/recording\_example.yml" should not exist.

## Multiple hooks are run in order

*Given* a file named "multiple\_hooks.rb" with:

```
$server = start_sinatra_app do
  get('/') { "Hello World" }
end

require 'vcr'

VCR.configure do |c|
  c.hook_into :webmock
  c.cassette_library_dir = 'cassettes'

  c.before_record { puts "In before_record hook 1" }
  c.before_record { puts "In before_record hook 2" }
end

VCR.use_cassette('example', :record => :new_episodes) do
  response = Net::HTTP.get_response('localhost', '/', $server.port)
  puts "Response: #{response.body}"
end
```

*When* I run `ruby multiple_hooks.rb`

*Then* it should pass with:

```
Response: Hello World
In before_record hook 1
In before_record hook 2
```

## Use tagging to apply hook to only certain cassettes

*Given* a file named "tagged\_hooks.rb" with:

```
$server = start_sinatra_app do
  get('/') { "Hello World" }
end

require 'vcr'

VCR.configure do |c|
  c.hook_into :webmock
  c.cassette_library_dir = 'cassettes'

  c.before_record(:tag_1) do
    puts "In before_record hook for tag_1"
  end
end

[:tag_1, :tag_2, nil].each do |tag|
  puts
  puts "Using tag: #{tag.inspect}"

  VCR.use_cassette('example', :record => :new_episodes, :tag => tag) do
    response = Net::HTTP.get_response('localhost', '/', $server.port)
    puts "Response: #{response.body}"
  end
end
```

*When* I run `ruby tagged_hooks.rb`

*Then* it should pass with:

```
Using tag: :tag_1
Response: Hello World
In before_record hook for tag_1

Using tag: :tag_2
Response: Hello World

Using tag: nil
Response: Hello World
```


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://andrewmcodes.gitbook.io/vcr/v5.0.0/hooks/before_record.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.