Generate unique random numbers or tokens in ruby on rails

Sometimes we need random or unique numbers and tokens in our web apps. Here is a quick solution on how you can generate random unique numbers or token using Ruby on Rails.

Generate Random Number or Token

For generating secured random numbers and tokens we use Secure Random, suitable for generating session keys in HTTP cookies, etc. If you are only looking for generating random numbers, then you can use rand(Random). Here, we are using randomnumber(SecureRandom) for numbers and <a href=”https://apidock.com/ruby/SecureRandom/hex/class” target=”blank”>hex(SecureRandom) for tokens. There are varieties of other methods provided by Secure Random like alphanumeric, base64, urlsafebase64, uuid, etc. which you can read further about here: <a href=”https://ruby-doc.org/stdlib-2.5.1/libdoc/securerandom/rdoc/SecureRandom.html” target=”blank”>Secure Random.

def generate_random_number
   SecureRandom.random_number(10000000)

  # OR Using rand method
  #  rand(10000000)
end

def generate_token
  SecureRandom.hex(10)
end

Generate Random Token or Number with Prefix

Add prefix to token with any string you would like to by returning prefixed value instead of only token like: "AC#{token}".

def generate_token_with_prefix
  loop do
    token = SecureRandom.hex(10)

    # Assuming AC is the string you would like to prefix
    break "AC#{token}"
  end
end

Generate Unique Random Token

For generating random tokens that are unique, we make the use of loop provide by Ruby. Here, we are generating tokens indefinitely until it meets our requirement that is; we are breaking out of the loop and returning token only if the generated token doesn’t already exist in our database for user table.

class User < ActiveRecord::Base
  # =========== Hook =============
  before_create :set_access_token

  # ======== Private Method =======
  private

  def set_access_token
    self.access_token = generate_token
  end

  def generate_token
    loop do
      token = SecureRandom.hex(10)

      break token unless User.where(access_token: token).exists?
    end
  end
end

Generate Unique Random Number

class Invoice < ApplicationRecord
 # =============== Hook ======================
 before_create :set_invoice_number

 # ============= Private Method =============
 private

  def set_invoice_number
    self.invoice_number = generate_invoice_number
  end

 def generate_invoice_number
   loop do
     number = SecureRandom.random_number(10000000)
     invoice_number = "IN#{number}"

     break invoice_number unless Invoice.where(invoice_number: invoice_number).exists?
   end
 end
end

Do you know more elegant way to generate unique random numbers or tokens? Enlighten and guide us with your precious comment below if you do.

References: Makandra Cards

Image Credits: Cover Image by 955169 from Pixabay