chore: add comments and improve tests

docs/api-guide/validators.md

@@ -222,6 +222,28 @@ For example:
             extra_kwargs = {'client': {'required': False}}
             validators = []  # Remove a default "unique together" constraint.
 
+### UniqueConstraint with conditions
+
+When using Django's `UniqueConstraint` with conditions that reference other model fields, DRF will automatically use
+`UniqueTogetherValidator` instead of field-level `UniqueValidator`. This ensures proper validation behavior when the constraint
+effectively involves multiple fields.
+
+For example, a single-field constraint with a condition becomes a multi-field validation when the condition references other fields.
+
+    class MyModel(models.Model):
+        name = models.CharField(max_length=100)
+        status = models.CharField(max_length=20)
+
+        class Meta:
+            constraints = [
+                models.UniqueConstraint(
+                    fields=['name'],
+                    condition=models.Q(status='active'),
+                    name='unique_active_name'
+                )
+            ]
+
+
 ## Updating nested serializers
 
 When applying an update to an existing instance, uniqueness validators will

rest_framework/serializers.py

@@ -1451,6 +1451,8 @@ class ModelSerializer(Serializer):
                             get_referenced_base_fields_from_q(constraint.condition)
                         )
 
+                    # Combine constraint fields and condition fields. If the union
+                    # involves multiple fields, treat as unique-together validation
                     required_fields = {*constraint.fields, *condition_fields}
                     if len(required_fields) > 1:
                         yield (

rest_framework/utils/field_mapping.py

@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ def get_unique_validators(field_name, model_field):
             if condition is not None
             else set()
         )
+        # Only use UniqueValidator if the union of field and condition fields is 1
+        # (i.e. no additional fields referenced in conditions)
         if len(field_set | condition_fields) == 1:
             yield UniqueValidator(
                 queryset=queryset if condition is None else queryset.filter(condition),

tests/test_validators.py

@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ class TestUniquenessTogetherValidation(TestCase):
 
     def test_is_not_unique_together_condition_based(self):
         """
-        Failing unique together validation should result in non field errors when a condition-based
+        Failing unique together validation should result in non-field errors when a condition-based
         unique together constraint is violated.
         """
         ConditionUniquenessTogetherModel.objects.create(race_name='example', position=1)
@@ -275,10 +275,10 @@ class TestUniquenessTogetherValidation(TestCase):
             'position': 2
         }
 
-    def test_unique_together_condition_based(self):
+    def test_is_unique_together_condition_based(self):
         """
-        In a unique together validation, one field may be non-unique
-        so long as the set as a whole is unique.
+        In a condition-based unique together validation, data is valid when
+        the constrained field differs when the condition applies`.
         """
         ConditionUniquenessTogetherModel.objects.create(race_name='example', position=1)
 
@@ -290,6 +290,21 @@ class TestUniquenessTogetherValidation(TestCase):
             'position': 1
         }
 
+    def test_is_unique_together_when_condition_does_not_apply(self):
+        """
+        In a condition-based unique together validation, data is valid when
+        the condition does not apply, even if constrained fields match existing records.
+        """
+        ConditionUniquenessTogetherModel.objects.create(race_name='example', position=1)
+
+        data = {'race_name': 'example', 'position': 2}
+        serializer = ConditionUniquenessTogetherSerializer(data=data)
+        assert serializer.is_valid()
+        assert serializer.validated_data == {
+            'race_name': 'example',
+            'position': 2
+        }
+
     def test_updated_instance_excluded_from_unique_together(self):
         """
         When performing an update, the existing instance does not count
@@ -308,10 +323,10 @@ class TestUniquenessTogetherValidation(TestCase):
         When performing an update, the existing instance does not count
         as a match against uniqueness.
         """
-        ConditionUniquenessTogetherModel.objects.create(race_name='example', position=1)
+        instance = ConditionUniquenessTogetherModel.objects.create(race_name='example', position=1)
 
         data = {'race_name': 'example', 'position': 0}
-        serializer = ConditionUniquenessTogetherSerializer(self.instance, data=data)
+        serializer = ConditionUniquenessTogetherSerializer(instance, data=data)
         assert serializer.is_valid()
         assert serializer.validated_data == {
             'race_name': 'example',