ruby on rails - action controller strong params with value that can be either scalar OR array? -

i have endpoint receives data in such way:

{:stuff => [ { :name => 'item_1', :value => [ { :arcade_game => "dragon's lair", :manufacturer => "cinematronics", } ] }, { :name => 'item_2', :value => 'something else' } ] } 

because there values scalar, , arrays, becomes problematic because:

params.permit(:stuff => [:name, :value]).require(:stuff) 

will give me:

=> [{"name"=>"item_1"}, {"name"=>"item_2", "value"=>"something else"}] 

and

params.permit(:stuff => [:name, :value => [:manufacturer, :arcade_game]]).require(:stuff) 

will give me:

=> [{"name"=>"item_1", "value"=>[{"manufacturer"=>"cinematronics", "arcade_game"=>"dragon's lair"}]}, {"name"=>"item_2", "value"=>nil}] 

...

so way can figure out around problem looks , feels beyond extremely terrible:

params.permit(:stuff => [:name, :value]).tap |whitelisted|     params[:stuff].each_with_index |stuff, index|          whitelisted[:stuff][index][:value] = params[:stuff][index].permit(:name, :value => [:arcade_game, :manufacturer]).require(:value) if params[:stuff][index][:value].is_a?(array)     end end}.require(:stuff) 

ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

how in world supposed handle dynamic values this???

try following. think allow both scalar , array type of values.

params.permit(:stuff => []).require(:stuff)