Rails 3: How to identify after_commit action in observers? (create/update/destroy)

Question

I have an observer and I register an after_commit callback. How can I tell whether it was fired after create or update? I can tell an item was destroyed by asking

Answer 1

You can solve by using two techniques.

• The approach suggested by @nathanvda i.e. checking the created_at and updated_at. If they are same, the record is newly created, else its an update.

• By using virtual attributes in the model. Steps are:

  • Add a field in the model with the code attr_accessor newly_created

  • Update the same in the before_create and before_update callbacks as

    def before_create (record)
        record.newly_created = true
    end
    
    def before_update (record)
        record.newly_created = false
    end