validation_example.rb

class Movie < ActiveRecord::Base
  def self.all_ratings ; %w[G PG PG-13 R NC-17] ; end #  shortcut: array of strings
  validates :title, :presence => true
  validates :release_date, :presence => true
  validate :released_1930_or_later # uses custom validator below
  validates :rating, :inclusion => {:in => Movie.all_ratings},
    :unless => :grandfathered?
  def released_1930_or_later
    errors.add(:release_date, 'must be 1930 or later') if
      release_date && release_date < Date.parse('1 Jan 1930')
  end
  @@grandfathered_date = Date.parse('1 Nov 1968')
  def grandfathered?
    release_date && release_date >= @@grandfathered_date
  end
end
# try in console:
m = Movie.new(:title => '', :rating => 'RG', :release_date => '1929-01-01')
# force validation checks to be performed:
m.valid?  # => false
m.errors[:title] # => ["can't be blank"]
m.errors[:rating] # => ["is not included in the list"]
m.errors[:release_date] # => ["must be 1930 or later"]
m.errors.full_messages # => ["Title can't be blank", "Rating is not
  included in the list", "Release date must be 1930 or later"]