title: How Can I Store Data in a MySQL with Changing Columns
body: <p>I am creating a new table in a MySQL database in a Rails project.  The problem is that some fields will always be on the table, but other fields I do not know yet--they will be user generated.  I know that it is impossible to add fields dynamically to a table.  Therefore, are there any good established solutions for this?  Perhaps a gem?</p>
  
  <p>To be clear, let's say I have a table called UserInformation.  It has the columns name, gender, height.  But I need to allow the entry of whatever else a user wants.  So, for User A I need to store name, gender, height, weight.  For User B I need to store name, gender, height, and favorite_tv_show.  For User C I need to store name, gender, height, and favorite_tv_show, favorite_color, mothers_name.</p>
  
  <p>Because I do not know all the potential attributes, I cannot add them in advance as column names.</p>
  
  <p>I can't imagine I'm the first one to hit this problem.  Thank you very much in advance!</p>