Rails enumerations: String or Integer column?

Question

I am currently looking for a proper Rails gem for enumerations.

I already tried

enum_simulator
has_enum
1. Both use a string column in the database to store the enum data. Wouldn't an integer column have a better performance or less storage consumption (using MySQL)?
2. Is there a gem out there that can already do this?

Thanks a lot!

Update: I found the simple_enum gem which uses integer values to represent the enum within the database. It supports rails 3.1 and is well maintained.

simple_enum

Leonid Shevtsov · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-27 20:53:09Z

4

Ruby Toolbox is your friend. https://www.ruby-toolbox.com/categories/Active_Record_Enumerations

I've been using enumerated_attribute with both Rails 2.3 and Rails 3 with good results. Yes, it uses a string column.

IMO string columns are better than integer columns because they don't imply any order of values, and make the attribute easier to understand (reverse engineer, if you want to) without looking at the source code. And usually the performance difference is negligible, especially if you have an index on the field - and you should.

Using the MySQL enum field has proven complicated in Rails 2.3, trouble with schemas, not sure if it persists in Rails 3.

answered Oct 27, 2011 at 20:53

Leonid Shevtsov

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4 Comments

alex Over a year ago

Thanks a lot! i will have a look into it. Do you know if MYSQL compresses the data of a string column if there are a lot of redundant values from the enumeration?

Leonid Shevtsov Over a year ago

@alex, I don't think so, because that's what enum is for. Don't forget to upvote, by the way.

alex Over a year ago

okay thanks... i will do some further research. i am sorry but i currently dont have enough reputation to do up-votes but i will definitely do it as soon as possible.

Paweł Obrok Over a year ago

I can confirm that MySQL enum is still not supported in Rails 3

Fernando Vieira · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-18 14:58:26Z

0

Look for this gem: enumerate_it. I think it solves your problem!

answered Apr 18, 2013 at 14:58

Fernando Vieira

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