active-storage-setup

Development

Configures Active Storage for file uploads with variants and direct uploads. Use when adding file uploads, image attachments, document storage, generating thumbnails, or when user mentions Active Storage, file upload, attachments, or image processing. WHEN NOT: Storing data in database columns, external URL references, static assets in the asset pipeline, or simple text/JSON storage.

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Active Storage Setup for Rails 8

Overview

Active Storage handles file uploads in Rails:

Cloud storage (S3, GCS, Azure) or local disk
Image variants (thumbnails, resizing)
Direct uploads from browser
Polymorphic attachments

Quick Start

# Install Active Storage (if not already)
bin/rails active_storage:install
bin/rails db:migrate

# Add image processing
bundle add image_processing

Configuration

Storage Services

# config/storage.yml
local:
  service: Disk
  root: <%= Rails.root.join("storage") %>

test:
  service: Disk
  root: <%= Rails.root.join("tmp/storage") %>

amazon:
  service: S3
  access_key_id: <%= Rails.application.credentials.dig(:aws, :access_key_id) %>
  secret_access_key: <%= Rails.application.credentials.dig(:aws, :secret_access_key) %>
  region: eu-west-1
  bucket: <%= Rails.application.credentials.dig(:aws, :bucket) %>

google:
  service: GCS
  credentials: <%= Rails.root.join("config/gcs-credentials.json") %>
  project: my-project
  bucket: my-bucket

Environment Config

# config/environments/development.rb
config.active_storage.service = :local

# config/environments/production.rb
config.active_storage.service = :amazon

Model Attachments

Single Attachment

# app/models/user.rb
class User < ApplicationRecord
  has_one_attached :avatar

  # With variant defaults
  has_one_attached :avatar do |attachable|
    attachable.variant :thumb, resize_to_limit: [100, 100]
    attachable.variant :medium, resize_to_limit: [300, 300]
  end
end

Multiple Attachments

# app/models/event.rb
class Event < ApplicationRecord
  has_many_attached :photos

  has_many_attached :documents do |attachable|
    attachable.variant :preview, resize_to_limit: [200, 200]
  end
end

TDD Workflow

Active Storage Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Add attachment to model
- [ ] Step 2: Write model spec for attachment
- [ ] Step 3: Add validations (type, size)
- [ ] Step 4: Create upload form
- [ ] Step 5: Handle in controller
- [ ] Step 6: Display in views
- [ ] Step 7: Test upload flow

Testing Attachments

See testing.md for model specs, factory traits, and request specs.

Key patterns:

Use fixture_file_upload in request specs
Define :with_avatar factory traits using after(:build)
Test be_attached and variant presence in model specs

Validations

Use the active_storage_validations gem for declarative validation, or write manual validate methods. See validations.md for both approaches.

# Gemfile
gem 'active_storage_validations'

Image Variants

Define named variants on the model attachment using resize_to_fill, resize_to_limit, or resize_to_cover. See variants-and-views.md for variant operations, view helpers, and form examples.

Controller and Service Handling

Permit :avatar for single uploads, photos: [] for multiple
Use purge to remove attachments, with optional Turbo Stream response
Use rails_blob_path or send_data for downloads

See controller-and-service.md for full controller examples, service methods, direct uploads setup, and performance tips.

Checklist

References

testing.md - Model specs, factory traits, request specs
validations.md - Gem-based and manual validation examples
variants-and-views.md - Variant definitions, view helpers, upload forms
controller-and-service.md - Controllers, service methods, direct uploads, performance