ruby on rails - How to exclude some objects from as_json result -

i have model people. model has method hide(). in controller need return list of not hidden models in addiction external conditions.

# controller ... def index   render json: people.all.as_json end 

i thought, can place needed contidion overrided as_json method, don't know how exclude hidden models resulting array.

i override as_json method in people model:

class people   def as_json(options)     return false if hidden()     super(options)   end    def hidden?()     ... # return true or false   end   ... 

then call as_json peoples array:

peoples.aj_json 

and get:

[   false,   false,   {...}, # model 1   {...}, # model 2 ] 

but need array

[   {...}, # model 1   {...} # model 2 ] 

is way as_json? or must create flag, called hidden_flag in model people , filter models when make request db?

# controller ... def index   peoples = people.where(hidden_flag: false)   render json: peoples.as_json end 

that's strange thing you're doing.

you have as_json defined on people model (which bad naming, "people" plural , model names should singular), , override return false. so, when call as_json on array of people objects, makes sense returns false each element of array.

if need empty array in case, can use clear method remove elements:

peoples.as_json.clear

but looks have serious flaws in logic if have this.

after main post edit:

a blunt approach return nil instead of return false, , use compact method rid of nil values.

but, better way use active model serializers. here's a article rationalising use.