Ruby on Rails 8: How to Batch with Custom Columns

Ruby on Rails 8 introduces a handy feature for developers handling large datasets: batching with custom columns. This upgrade lets you batch records by specific attributes, not just the primary key.

This feature can save time and boost performance if you work with multi-tenant systems, data migration, or advanced filtering.

Quick Guide: Batching with Custom Columns

To start using custom columns for batching, specify them in the cursor option. Here’s a quick example:

Product.in_batches(cursor: [:shop_id, :id]) do |relation|
  # process each batch of products by shop_id
end

This command tells Rails to process Product records in batches using both shop_id and id as the cursor. It’s ideal for scenarios where records are grouped by specific attributes like location, tenant, or priority.

Common Use Cases

1. Multi-Tenant Data Processing

If you’re managing data by tenant (e.g., by shop_id), you can process each tenant’s data in its own batch, making operations cleaner and reducing potential conflicts.

   Order.in_batches(cursor: [:tenant_id, :id]) do |batch|
     # Process orders per tenant
   end

2. Time-Based Archiving

Use batching by date and ID to archive older records while keeping recent ones available. This method reduces database load by archiving in chunks.

   Event.in_batches(cursor: [:event_date, :id]) do |batch|
     # Archive events by date
   end

3. Custom Sorting for Tasks

Batching by custom criteria like priority and date lets you prioritize tasks while processing.

   Task.in_batches(cursor: [:priority, :created_at]) do |batch|
     # Process tasks by priority and date
   end

4. Inventory Management by Location

Batch inventory updates by location and product to manage stock at specific warehouses.

   Inventory.in_batches(cursor: [:warehouse_id, :product_id]) do |batch|
     # Update inventory by warehouse
   end

5. Customer Segmentation for Campaigns

Group customers by region and signup date for segmented marketing. Batching by these attributes allows more focused engagement.

   Customer.in_batches(cursor: [:region, :signup_date]) do |batch|
     # Target customers by region
   end

Why This Matters

Rails’ new custom batching makes it easier to control data processing, especially for high-scale applications. Now, you can batch records based on how your data is structured, saving time and reducing complexity in your code.