# Lockdown: Understanding "nil\_lockdown\_values"...?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/lockdown-understanding-nil-lockdown-values/161354>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [February 25, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/lockdown-understanding-nil-lockdown-values/161354 "2009-02-25T19:50:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dezrtdude](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@dezrtdude](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dezrtdude)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/lockdown-understanding-nil-lockdown-values/161354/1 "2009-02-25T19:50:33Z")

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Hi All,

I’m having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around  
“nil\_lockdown\_values” in the Lockdown plugin. I’m unfamiliar with how  
exactly this works. I’m assuming it is a helper method of sorts, but  
I see no definition. Does Rails simply have the ability to nil\_  
[somerandomliborclass]\_values? Would someone mind unconfusing me?  
Also, where would I find information about general features of this  
nature? It seems that the API reference doesn’t cover items like this  
– or at least not directly.

Best!