# Plural table names?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/plural-table-names/183308>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [February 11, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/plural-table-names/183308 "2010-02-11T15:05:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hkhkhk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@hkhkhk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/hkhkhk)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/plural-table-names/183308/1 "2010-02-11T15:05:03Z")

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should we follow the convention? or use singular?

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**Author:** ![hkhkhk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@hkhkhk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/hkhkhk)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/plural-table-names/183308/2 "2010-02-11T15:48:23Z")

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Definitely ignore as many conventions as you can, and thereby make  
development as hard as possible on yourself.

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**Author:** ![hkhkhk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@hkhkhk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/hkhkhk)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/plural-table-names/183308/3 "2010-02-11T19:25:32Z")

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Really makes sense. A table has a collection of objects, plural.

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**Author:** ![hkhkhk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@hkhkhk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/hkhkhk)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/plural-table-names/183308/4 "2010-02-11T17:44:51Z")

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On Thu, Feb 11, 2010 at 9:47 AM, Jeff [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> Definitely ignore as many conventions as you can, and thereby make  
> development as hard as possible on yourself.

Ah yes, Consternation over Convention!

–  
Rick DeNatale

Blog: [http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/](http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/)  
Twitter: [http://twitter.com/RickDeNatale](http://twitter.com/RickDeNatale)  
WWR: [http://www.workingwithrails.com/person/9021-rick-denatale](http://www.workingwithrails.com/person/9021-rick-denatale)  
LinkedIn: [Rick DeNatale - Developer - IBM | LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickdenatale)

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**Author:** ![hkhkhk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@hkhkhk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/hkhkhk)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/plural-table-names/183308/5 "2010-02-11T19:48:23Z")

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I ask because I’ve seen debate on it and am not sure if the community  
has reached a consensus. Objects named person corresponding to a  
table named people seems brokenS, but I’m happy to do whatever is most  
standard. Perhaps this issue is a dead horse?

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**Author:** ![hkhkhk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@hkhkhk](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/hkhkhk)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/plural-table-names/183308/6 "2010-02-11T19:51:58Z")

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hkhkhk wrote:

> I ask because I’ve seen debate on it and am not sure if the community  
> has reached a consensus.

The Rails convention is to use plural table names.

> Objects named person corresponding to a  
> table named people seems brokenS,

Why? One object is one person. The table contains data for many  
objects – that is to say, many people.

> but I’m happy to do whatever is most  
> standard. Perhaps this issue is a dead horse?

I’d say so.

Best,  
–Â  
Marnen Laibow-Koser  
[http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org)  
removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid