Get a list of IDs from database

rails-db-ids-list

# 1. connection.select_values or connection.select_all

ids = ActiveRecord::Base.connection.select_values("select id from users WHERE ...")

# array of integers
# ["1", "2", "5", "6", "7", "8", "3", "10", "11", "9"]

# return hashes without model
sql = "sql query"
rows = User.connection.select_all(sql.squish!)

# array of hashes

# 2. If you already have a model:
User.all(:select => :id).collect(&:id)

First approach is faster than the 2nd as it does not incur the cost of constructing model instances.