search for: validate_start_date_before_end_date

Given the case of validating the presence of an attribute and then performing other tests on said attribute, how do you go about not having to check for nil in the other tests? Example: validates_presence_of :start_date, :end_date validate :validate_start_date_before_end_date def validate_start_date_before_end_date # without this check an exception will be thrown on access to the nil attribute return if start_date.nil? || end_date.nil? if end_date < start_date errors.add_to_base ''End date cannot be earlier than start date.''...