What is the best way to ban/block users with Devise for Rails?

Question

I'm using Devise for authentication in my rails app and I'd like to be able to block certain accounts and prevent users from reregistering with a blocked email. I'm just not sure what the best way is to go about it.

My first thought was to override the sessions and registrations controllers to check the model for a user with a blocked bit, but I have a feeling there might be a more elegant way.

Answer 1

The best approach is to do it in Devise way:

Below assumes that you are using Devise database_authenticatable module and your application's users model names User.

1. Implement an account_active? method.

Add boolean account_active column in users table or define account_active? method in User model (you can chose your own method name). For example:

    # app/models/user.rb
    def account_active?
      blocked_at.nil?
    end

2. Overwrite the active_for_authentication? method in your model (User).

    # app/models/user.rb
    def active_for_authentication?
      super && account_active?
    end

3. Add method which returns translation for flash message.

Whenever active_for_authentication? returns false, Devise asks the reason why your model is inactive using the inactive_message method.

    # app/models/user.rb 
    def inactive_message
      account_active? ? super : :locked
    end

And that's it. You don't need to care about sign_out or redirect_to user.

Moreover, user is locked immediately, with next request, not after next sign in.

More: devise/authenticatable.rb.