Question

Can the #save method be used to update a record?

I know that I can create a new record using save, like this:

person = Person.new 
person.save # rails will insert the new record into the database.

However, if I find an existing record first, modify the model, and then save it, is this the same result as performing a update?

person = Person.find(:first, :condition => "id = 1") 
person.name = "my_new_name" 
person.save # is this save performing a update or insert?

Answer 1

Yes. An ActiveRecord object in Rails retains its identity in the ID parameter. If the ID is set, Rails will know to update the record in the database with that ID.

save is, in fact, the primary way to create, update, or in any way save an object to the database. Other methods like update_attributes are just sugar that use save at their core.