Rails: display of array as string in rails -

i have model field array. can store , retrieve database no trouble.

when user creates or edits array want them see , edit comma separated list. there sensible reasons behind choice store array , have user interact list, plus edit records containing list/array. 99% of time edit record once, when create it, although may view many times, view times record not in edit mode not concerned performance hit coming using serialize.

i know how split string array of strings, , know how join , array of strings make comma separated list.

my dilemma revolves around split/join? in controller private methods called before display/before save, in model, or maybe form helper? i've no idea.

advice appreciated.

you don't need convert text. activerecord::base class macro serialize built such use case - saving arrays, hashes, , other non-mappable objects in text columns

active record can serialize object in text columns using yaml. so, must specify call class method serialize. makes possible store arrays, hashes, , other non-mappable objects without doing additional work.

class user < activerecord::base   serialize :preferences end  user = user.create(preferences: { "background" => "black", "display" => large }) user.find(user.id).preferences # => { "background" => "black", "display" => large } 

doc: http://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/activerecord/base.html see serialize part