I assume the correct pattern for finite possible inputs would be something like if request.post? || request.put? || more... # do dangerous thing els

I assume the correct pattern for finite possible inputs would be something like if request.post? || request.put? || more... # do dangerous thing else # do safe thing This of course ignores the smell which others have pointed out where with rails you would ideally have a totally different method get called in the first place for a GET vs a POST as you can have different actions for them in the controller.