Add http(s) to URL if it’s not there?
Use a before filter to add it if it is not there: before_validation :smart_add_url_protocol protected def smart_add_url_protocol unless url[/\Ahttp:\/\//] || url[/\Ahttps:\/\//] self.url = “http://#{url}” end end Leave the validation you have in, that way if they make a typo they can correct the protocol.