method

add

add(attribute, message = :invalid, options = {})
public

Adds message to the error messages on attribute. More than one error can be added to the same attribute. If no message is supplied, :invalid is assumed.

person.errors.add(:name)
# => ["is invalid"]
person.errors.add(:name, 'must be implemented')
# => ["is invalid", "must be implemented"]

person.errors.messages
# => {:name=>["must be implemented", "is invalid"]}

If message is a symbol, it will be translated using the appropriate scope (see generate_message).

If message is a proc, it will be called, allowing for things like Time.now to be used within an error.

If the :strict option is set to true, it will raise ActiveModel::StrictValidationFailed instead of adding the error. :strict option can also be set to any other exception.

person.errors.add(:name, nil, strict: true)
# => ActiveModel::StrictValidationFailed: name is invalid
person.errors.add(:name, nil, strict: NameIsInvalid)
# => NameIsInvalid: name is invalid

person.errors.messages # => {}

attribute should be set to :base if the error is not directly associated with a single attribute.

person.errors.add(:base, "either name or email must be present")
person.errors.messages
# => {:base=>["either name or email must be present"]}

2Notes

More on add_to_base

MGPalmer · Sep 14, 20112 thanks

Actually, use model_instance.errors.add :base, :invalid to have I18n working.

Depracated add_to_base

stevo · Aug 13, 2010

use model_instance.errors[:base] << "Msg" instead of depracated model_instance.errors.add_to_base("Msg") for Rails 3