> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://benoit-tigeot.gitbook.io/vcr/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://benoit-tigeot.gitbook.io/vcr/cassettes/automatic-re-recording.md).

# Automatic Re-recording

Over time, your cassettes may get out-of-date. APIs change and sites you scrape get updated. VCR provides a facility to automatically re-record your cassettes. Enable re-recording using the `:re_record_interval` option.

The value provided should be an interval (expressed in seconds) that determines how often VCR will re-record the cassette. When a cassette is used, VCR checks the earliest `recorded_at` timestamp in the cassette; if more time than the interval has passed since that timestamp, VCR will use the `:all` record mode to cause it be re-recorded.

## Background

*Given* a previously recorded cassette file "cassettes/example.yml" with:

```
--- 
http_interactions: 
- request: 
    method: get
    uri: http://localhost/
    body: 
      encoding: UTF-8
      string: ""
    headers: {}
  response: 
    status: 
      code: 200
      message: OK
    headers: 
      Content-Length: 
      - "12"
    body: 
      encoding: UTF-8
      string: Old Response
    http_version: "1.1"
  recorded_at: Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:58:44 GMT
recorded_with: VCR 2.0.0
```

*And* a file named "re\_record.rb" with:

```ruby
$server = start_sinatra_app do
  get('/') { 'New Response' }
end

require 'vcr'

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

VCR.use_cassette('example', :re_record_interval => 7.days, :match_requests_on => [:method, :host, :path]) do
  puts Net::HTTP.get_response('localhost', '/', $server.port).body
end
```

## Cassette is not re-recorded when not enough time has passed

*Given* it is Tue, 07 Nov 2011

*When* I run `ruby re_record.rb`

*Then* the output should contain "Old Response"

*But* the output should not contain "New Response"

*And* the file "cassettes/example.yml" should contain "Old Response"

*But* the file "cassettes/example.yml" should not contain "New Response".

## Cassette is re-recorded when enough time has passed

*Given* it is Tue, 09 Nov 2011

*When* I run `ruby re_record.rb`

*Then* the output should contain "New Response"

*But* the output should not contain "Old Response"

*And* the file "cassettes/example.yml" should contain "New Response"

*But* the file "cassettes/example.yml" should not contain "Old Response".