instance method `select`

Ruby on Rails 4.2.9

Since v3.0.20

Available in: v3.0.20 v3.1.12 v3.2.22.5 v4.0.13 v4.1.16 v4.2.9 v5.2.8.1 v6.0.6 v6.1.7.10 v7.0.10 v7.1.6 v7.2.3 v8.0.4 v8.1.2

Compare with:

select(*fields)

Works in two unique ways.

First: takes a block so it can be used just like Array#select.

Model.all.select { |m| m.field == value }

This will build an array of objects from the database for the scope, converting them into an array and iterating through them using Array#select.

Second: Modifies the SELECT statement for the query so that only certain fields are retrieved:

Model.select(:field)
# => [#<Model id: nil, field: "value">]

Although in the above example it looks as though this method returns an array, it actually returns a relation object and can have other query methods appended to it, such as the other methods in ActiveRecord::QueryMethods.

The argument to the method can also be an array of fields.

Model.select(:field, :other_field, :and_one_more)
# => [#<Model id: nil, field: "value", other_field: "value", and_one_more: "value">]

You can also use one or more strings, which will be used unchanged as SELECT fields.

Model.select('field AS field_one', 'other_field AS field_two')
# => [#<Model id: nil, field: "value", other_field: "value">]

If an alias was specified, it will be accessible from the resulting objects:

Model.select('field AS field_one').first.field_one
# => "value"

Accessing attributes of an object that do not have fields retrieved by a select except id will throw ActiveModel::MissingAttributeError:

Model.select(:field).first.other_field
# => ActiveModel::MissingAttributeError: missing attribute: other_field

Parameters

fields rest

Source

# File activerecord/lib/active_record/relation/query_methods.rb, line 249
    def select(*fields)
      if block_given?
        to_a.select { |*block_args| yield(*block_args) }
      else
        raise ArgumentError, 'Call this with at least one field' if fields.empty?
        spawn._select!(*fields)
      end
    end

Defined in activerecord/lib/active_record/relation/query_methods.rb line 249 · View on GitHub · Improve this page · Find usages on GitHub

Defined in ActiveRecord::QueryMethods

Signature

Parameters