Learning Rails: Live Edition

PrototypeHelper

The Prototype JavaScript library simplifies many common Ajax tasks, but these helper methods make it even more convenient to incorporate calls to Prototype in Rails templates:

evaluate_remote_response

Evaluates the JavaScript response from a remote service using the JavaScript eval method. The eval method opens JavaScript applications up to attack, so be certain that what you’re processing is free of potentially harmful code.

form_remote_for

Same as remote_form_for, described later.

form_remote_tag

Creates a form element that uses an XmlHttpRequest call to submit form data. This allows the page to handle the response rather than reloading an entirely new page.

link_to_remote

Creates a link that issues an XmlHttpRequest call, again allowing the page to handle the response rather than replacing the current page with a new destination.

observe_field

Watches the content of a given field and makes a remote call (or a JavaScript function call) when the content of that field changes. Useful for components like text fields that provide suggestions.

observe_form

Watches the content of a given form and makes a remote call (or a JavaScript function call) when the content of that field changes.

periodically_call_remote

Makes an XmlHttpRequest call every so often, according to a duration specified in seconds set as the :frequency option.

remote_form_for

Works like form_for, except that submitting the form triggers an XmlHttpRequest call that gets handled by Ajax in the browser instead of the ...