In Ruby on Rails 8, ActiveRecord’s encryption features are more flexible than ever. You can now set a custom compression algorithm for encrypted attributes. This update lets you manage data size while keeping it secure. Whether you're storing large encrypted text or using custom compression algorithms, this feature can streamline storage and retrieval.
How to Use Custom Compression with ActiveRecord Encryption
The :compressor
option lets you define your compression module. Here’s how to use it with a custom algorithm, such as Zstd
:
-
Create Your Compressor Module
Define a module with
deflate
andinflate
methods for compressing and decompressing data. Here’s an example usingZstd
:
module ZstdCompressor
def self.deflate(data)
Zstd.compress(data)
end
def self.inflate(data)
Zstd.decompress(data)
end
end
-
Apply Custom Compression to Encrypted Attributes
Use the
:compressor
option when encrypting an attribute. For instance, to encrypt and compress thename
attribute withZstdCompressor
, do this:
class User
encrypts :name, compressor: ZstdCompressor
end
This setup will compress data with Zstd
before encryption, optimizing storage for encrypted text.
How to Disable Compression
If you prefer not to compress an encrypted attribute, simply set compress: false
:
class User
encrypts :name, compress: false
end
This configuration turns off compression entirely, allowing the data to be stored as-is.
Practical Use Cases
Optimizing Storage for Encrypted Data
If your app stores large amounts of encrypted text, a custom compressor can save space, especially with highly compressible data. Rails now lets you choose the best algorithm for your needs.Adapting for Performance
Some compression algorithms are faster than others. Using:compressor
, you can optimize performance based on your app’s requirements. For example, Zstd offers high compression ratios with quick decompression, which is ideal for frequently accessed encrypted data.Customizing Compression for Specific Fields
Not all fields need compression. Rails gives you granular control to apply compression where needed and skip it where it’s not, balancing storage and speed.
Why This Matters
The ability to customize compression lets you balance security, performance, and storage. Rails 8’s :compressor
option makes encrypted data more efficient and tailored to your specific needs, making storage optimization straightforward and flexible.
Use Rails 8’s encryption improvements to keep your data safe and storage efficient!
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