相同模型的最佳实践是什么：update_attributes或self.save

Question

Say I have to update 'author_id' in article model. From a method that belongs to app/model/article.rb

Which one should i prefer and why?

self.update_attribute(:author_id, id)

or

self.author_id = id
self.save

If there is even better way, please suggest!

Answer 1

The main difference is that update_attribute will not trigger validations. You should definitively prefer the second option (unless you really want to skip the validations). You can write in one line using update_attributes (note s at the end):

self.update_attributes(author_id: id)

There is also another methods worth knowing called update_column(s) . Those method will skip all the callbacks and validations and will save only specific columns in the database, leaving the rest unchanged (all other methods saves all the columns):

self.id    #=> 1
self.id = 5
self.update_column(:name, 'hello')
self.id    #=> 5
self.id_changed?    #=> true!

Answer 2

It depends. If you want your validations run, you should go with the second way (with save ):

self.author_id = id
save

You can do it also in one line, using update :

update(author_id: id)

If you don't need them, you can use update_attribute (since update_attribute doesn't run validations):

update_attribute(:author_id, id)