diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/associations.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/associations.rb
index 661605d3e5..b1cad0d0a4 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/associations.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/associations.rb
@@ -1061,12 +1061,6 @@ module ActiveRecord
# belongs_to :dungeon, inverse_of: :evil_wizard
# end
#
- # There are limitations to :inverse_of support:
- #
- # * does not work with :through associations.
- # * does not work with :polymorphic associations.
- # * inverse associations for #belongs_to associations #has_many are ignored.
- #
# For more information, see the documentation for the +:inverse_of+ option.
#
# == Deleting from associations
@@ -1279,6 +1273,9 @@ module ActiveRecord
# Specify the foreign key used for the association. By default this is guessed to be the name
# of this class in lower-case and "_id" suffixed. So a Person class that makes a #has_many
# association will use "person_id" as the default :foreign_key.
+ #
+ # If you are going to modify the association (rather than just read from it), then it is
+ # a good idea to set the :inverse_of option.
# [:foreign_type]
# Specify the column used to store the associated object's type, if this is a polymorphic
# association. By default this is guessed to be the name of the polymorphic association
@@ -1352,8 +1349,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
# :autosave to true.
# [:inverse_of]
# Specifies the name of the #belongs_to association on the associated object
- # that is the inverse of this #has_many association. Does not work in combination
- # with :through or :as options.
+ # that is the inverse of this #has_many association.
# See ActiveRecord::Associations::ClassMethods's overview on Bi-directional associations for more detail.
# [:extend]
# Specifies a module or array of modules that will be extended into the association object returned.
@@ -1449,6 +1445,9 @@ module ActiveRecord
# Specify the foreign key used for the association. By default this is guessed to be the name
# of this class in lower-case and "_id" suffixed. So a Person class that makes a #has_one association
# will use "person_id" as the default :foreign_key.
+ #
+ # If you are going to modify the association (rather than just read from it), then it is
+ # a good idea to set the :inverse_of option.
# [:foreign_type]
# Specify the column used to store the associated object's type, if this is a polymorphic
# association. By default this is guessed to be the name of the polymorphic association
@@ -1464,6 +1463,9 @@ module ActiveRecord
# :primary_key, and :foreign_key are ignored, as the association uses the
# source reflection. You can only use a :through query through a #has_one
# or #belongs_to association on the join model.
+ #
+ # If you are going to modify the association (rather than just read from it), then it is
+ # a good idea to set the :inverse_of option.
# [:source]
# Specifies the source association name used by #has_one :through queries.
# Only use it if the name cannot be inferred from the association.
@@ -1484,8 +1486,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
# :autosave to true.
# [:inverse_of]
# Specifies the name of the #belongs_to association on the associated object
- # that is the inverse of this #has_one association. Does not work in combination
- # with :through or :as options.
+ # that is the inverse of this #has_one association.
# See ActiveRecord::Associations::ClassMethods's overview on Bi-directional associations for more detail.
# [:required]
# When set to +true+, the association will also have its presence validated.
@@ -1570,6 +1571,9 @@ module ActiveRecord
# association will use "person_id" as the default :foreign_key. Similarly,
# belongs_to :favorite_person, class_name: "Person" will use a foreign key
# of "favorite_person_id".
+ #
+ # If you are going to modify the association (rather than just read from it), then it is
+ # a good idea to set the :inverse_of option.
# [:foreign_type]
# Specify the column used to store the associated object's type, if this is a polymorphic
# association. By default this is guessed to be the name of the association with a "_type"
@@ -1619,8 +1623,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
# +after_commit+ and +after_rollback+ callbacks are executed.
# [:inverse_of]
# Specifies the name of the #has_one or #has_many association on the associated
- # object that is the inverse of this #belongs_to association. Does not work in
- # combination with the :polymorphic options.
+ # object that is the inverse of this #belongs_to association.
# See ActiveRecord::Associations::ClassMethods's overview on Bi-directional associations for more detail.
# [:optional]
# When set to +true+, the association will not have its presence validated.
@@ -1789,6 +1792,9 @@ module ActiveRecord
# of this class in lower-case and "_id" suffixed. So a Person class that makes
# a #has_and_belongs_to_many association to Project will use "person_id" as the
# default :foreign_key.
+ #
+ # If you are going to modify the association (rather than just read from it), then it is
+ # a good idea to set the :inverse_of option.
# [:association_foreign_key]
# Specify the foreign key used for the association on the receiving side of the association.
# By default this is guessed to be the name of the associated class in lower-case and "_id" suffixed.
diff --git a/guides/source/association_basics.md b/guides/source/association_basics.md
index b5e236b790..fa522f2eaf 100644
--- a/guides/source/association_basics.md
+++ b/guides/source/association_basics.md
@@ -735,12 +735,9 @@ a.first_name = 'David'
a.first_name == b.author.first_name # => true
```
-Active Record supports automatic identification for most associations with standard names. However, Active Record will not automatically identify bi-directional associations that contain any of the following options:
+Active Record supports automatic identification for most associations with standard names. However, Active Record will not automatically identify bi-directional associations that contain a scope or any of the following options:
-* `:conditions`
* `:through`
-* `:polymorphic`
-* `:class_name`
* `:foreign_key`
For example, consider the following model declarations:
@@ -787,12 +784,6 @@ a.first_name = 'David'
a.first_name == b.writer.first_name # => true
```
-There are a few limitations to `:inverse_of` support:
-
-* They do not work with `:through` associations.
-* They do not work with `:polymorphic` associations.
-* They do not work with `:as` associations.
-
Detailed Association Reference
------------------------------
@@ -1012,7 +1003,7 @@ When we execute `@user.todos.create` then the `@todo` record will have its
##### `:inverse_of`
-The `:inverse_of` option specifies the name of the `has_many` or `has_one` association that is the inverse of this association. Does not work in combination with the `:polymorphic` options.
+The `:inverse_of` option specifies the name of the `has_many` or `has_one` association that is the inverse of this association.
```ruby
class Author < ApplicationRecord
@@ -1066,7 +1057,8 @@ There may be times when you wish to customize the query used by `belongs_to`. Su
```ruby
class Book < ApplicationRecord
belongs_to :author, -> { where active: true },
- dependent: :destroy
+ dependent: :destroy,
+ inverse_of: :books
end
```
@@ -1082,8 +1074,8 @@ You can use any of the standard [querying methods](active_record_querying.html)
The `where` method lets you specify the conditions that the associated object must meet.
```ruby
-class book < ApplicationRecord
- belongs_to :author, -> { where active: true }
+class Book < ApplicationRecord
+ belongs_to :author, -> { where active: true }, inverse_of: :books
end
```
@@ -1299,7 +1291,7 @@ TIP: In any case, Rails will not create foreign key columns for you. You need to
##### `:inverse_of`
-The `:inverse_of` option specifies the name of the `belongs_to` association that is the inverse of this association. Does not work in combination with the `:through` or `:as` options.
+The `:inverse_of` option specifies the name of the `belongs_to` association that is the inverse of this association.
```ruby
class Supplier < ApplicationRecord
@@ -1337,7 +1329,7 @@ There may be times when you wish to customize the query used by `has_one`. Such
```ruby
class Supplier < ApplicationRecord
- has_one :account, -> { where active: true }
+ has_one :account, -> { where active: true }, inverse_of: :supplier
end
```
@@ -1694,7 +1686,7 @@ TIP: In any case, Rails will not create foreign key columns for you. You need to
##### `:inverse_of`
-The `:inverse_of` option specifies the name of the `belongs_to` association that is the inverse of this association. Does not work in combination with the `:through` or `:as` options.
+The `:inverse_of` option specifies the name of the `belongs_to` association that is the inverse of this association.
```ruby
class Author < ApplicationRecord