# Is assert\_select indicated for XML?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-assert-select-indicated-for-xml/129383>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [February 18, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-assert-select-indicated-for-xml/129383 "2008-02-18T02:12:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Phlip](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Phlip](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Phlip)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-assert-select-indicated-for-xml/129383/1 "2008-02-18T02:12:18Z")

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Railsers:

I’m playing with the Beast, and this test fails:

def test\_should\_show\_topic\_as\_rss  
get :show, :forum\_id =\> forums(:rails).id, :id =\> topics(:pdi).id,  
:format =\> ‘rss’  
assert\_response :success  
assert\_select ‘channel’  
end

It emits “ignoring attempt to close channel with link”.

So why are the Beastie boys testing XML with assert\_select? Wouldn’t an  
assertion that didn’t expect HTML work better there?

–  
Phlip  
[The Elaborate Art of Play, week 1](http://flea.sourceforge.net/EAP_1.html)