Update Records

This guide shows you how to update existing records in the database.

Update with save

Change attributes and save:

user = User.find(1)
if user
  user.name = "Updated Name"
  user.save
  puts "Updated!"
end

Update with save!

Raise on failure:

user = User.find!(1)
user.name = "Updated Name"
user.save!  # Raises if validation fails

Update with update!

Update multiple attributes at once:

user = User.find!(1)
user.update!(
  name: "New Name",
  email: "[e-mail]",
  age: 31
)

Bulk Update

Update multiple records matching a condition:

# Update all inactive users
User.where(active: false).update!(active: true)

# Update with specific value
Post.where(user_id: 1).update!(published: true)

Increment a Value

post = Post.find!(1)
post.views_count += 1
post.save!

Conditional Update

user = User.find!(1)

if user.status == "pending"
  user.status = "active"
  user.activated_at = Time.utc
  user.save!
end

Update Only Changed Fields

CQL tracks changes automatically:

user = User.find!(1)
user.name = "New Name"  # Only name changed
user.save!              # Only updates name column

Update with Validation

Validations run on update:

user = User.find!(1)
user.email = "invalid"

unless user.save
  puts user.errors.map(&.message).join(", ")
end

Update Timestamps

If your model has timestamps, updated_at is set automatically:

user = User.find!(1)
user.name = "Updated"
user.save!

user.updated_at  # => Current time

Update Without Callbacks

To skip callbacks (use carefully):

# Direct update bypasses callbacks
User.where(id: 1).update!(name: "Direct Update")

Verify Update

user = User.find!(1)
original_name = user.name

user.name = "New Name"
user.save!

User.find!(1).name  # => "New Name"

Related

• Create Records

• Delete Records

• Add Validations