Question

I want to create a model called ‘File’, but it is a reserved model name is rails. I can’t think of anything else sane to call the model, so I was wondering if there is a standard way of dealing with this issue, for example adding a prefix or suffix (_File, FileItem, etc)?

Answer 1

This problem is addressed with modules:

Modules are a way of grouping together methods, classes, and
constants. Modules give you two major benefits:

1. Modules provide a namespace and prevent name clashes.
2. Modules implement the mixin facility.

[…]

Modules define a namespace, a sandbox in which your methods and
constants can play without having to worry about being stepped on by
other methods and constants.

In your case:

module MyRailsApp
  class File
  ...
  end
end

whereby your File class is used as MyRailsApp::File. This is the typical solution in Ruby, in Ruby on Rails this might be handled differently, please see the following references for an in depth discussion:

• Handling namespace models (classes) in namespace
• ActiveRecord: Can haz namespaces?
• Namespaced models and controllers
• Namespaced models
• A simple alternative to namespaced models