I recently learned about the json datatype in Rails 5, which allows you to store a hash in a PostgreSQL database. For some reason I can't find a full list of Rails 5 datatypes. Is there any sort of datatype that similarly allows you to store an array?
Such that example_record.array_datatype => ["1", "2", "3"]
Yes indeed. Here is a sample migration to add an integer and a string array to a model:
class AddToBooks < ActiveRecord::Migration
def change
add_column :books, :category_ids, :integer, array: true, default: [], null: false
add_column :books, :subjects , :text , array: true, default: [], null: false
end
end
For arrays of strings, use :text as the type.
I'd strongly recommend using an empty array instead of a null to indicate "no data", and this migration ensures that.
null: false do? It makes empty arrays instead of null ones?
