Question

This query throws an error:

EncodingPreset.where('default = ?', false)

ActiveRecord::StatementInvalid: PG::Error: ERROR:  syntax error at or near "default"
LINE 1: ...coding_presets".* FROM "encoding_presets"  WHERE (default = ...
                                                             ^
: SELECT "encoding_presets".* FROM "encoding_presets"  WHERE (default = 'f')

but this works:

EncodingPreset.where(:default => false)

Why is the first query not working?

Versions:

ruby-1.9.3-p194
activerecord-3.2.11

Answer 1

That’s because default is a keyword and has to be put in quotes for use in a query.
This should work:

EncodingPreset.where('"default" = ?', false)