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I am currently trying to define a multi-step step definition in Cucumber (for Ruby) but I'm having trouble using a variable in one of the sub-steps. Below I am trying to use the "policy_name" variable in the last sub step but can not get Cucumber to recognize it for its variable value, instead it keeps using it as a string.

 Given("I should NOT be able to go back using the browser back button 
 after doing something string") do |policy|

 step 'I click on "something"'
 step 'I "do this" via computer'
 step 'I click on the browser back button'

 policy_name = case policy
 when "policy1" then "something1"
 when "policy2" then "something2"
 end

 step 'I should be on the "Specified" page 
 for #policy_name'
 end

Are you using single quote or double quotes? Double quotes allow for interpolation while single quotes will just use the contents without translating any variables. "#policy_name" should work, while '#any_variable' should not work.

Don't write steps like this and don't nest steps, you will just get into a mess. Also Given's are for setting up state, not for doing something.

If you have a complex step like this you have two better options than nesting steps

1. Break the step into simpler steps


2. Push the complexity down out of the step definitions and into helper methods

Having steps like "When I click something" is counter productive. That step is all about HOW something is done. Scenarios should be about WHAT you are doing and WHY its important. Features and scenarios are not for programming, they are for describing behaviour and should be very simple. So you should be writing something like

Scenario: When I foo then the back button is disabled
 Given ...
 When I foo
 Then the back button should be disabled

an example for my bank would be

Scenario: Smile login disables back button
 Given I am logged into smile banking
 When I try and use the back button
 Then I should see the back button disabled warning

Finally each step definition should just be a call to a helper method. e.g.

Given 'I am logged into smile banking' do
 # NOTE: both params are also helper methods
 login(site: smile_banking, user: create_user)
end

this allows you to push all the complexity out of cucumber and into code. Code can handle complexity, Cucumber cannot.