Mastering Rails Web Navigation with link_to and button_to Helpers - Part 2
Tags: rails, ruby, webdev, tutorial
Published: 2023-10-22 19:26:12

Welcome to Part 2 of our Rails Web Navigation tutorial!

In [Part 1](https://dev.to/ahmednadar/mastering-rails-web-navigation-with-linkto-and-buttonto-helpers-part-1-3gbg), we embarked on a cosmic journey through the Rails galaxy, exploring the intricacies of the Rails web navigation system. We delved deep into how Rails handles web requests, understanding the celestial dance between ActionController and ActionView. We also navigated the Middleware Nebula, gaining insights into the pivotal role middleware plays in processing web requests.

Having laid the groundwork in Part 1, we're now poised to dive into the heart of web navigation in Rails. In this part, we'll focus on the magic of the `link_to` and `button_to` helpers, starting with the ever-versatile `link_to`. These helpers are the unsung heroes that power the seamless navigation experience we often take for granted. So, without further ado, let's dive right in!


Great, let’s get started!

**TABLE OF CONTENTS (Part 2)**

- [Link_to](#link-to)
  - [Definition](#link-to-definition)
  - [Syntax](#link-to-syntax)
  - [Delete with link_to](#delete-with-link-to)
  - [Delete Link With Confirmation](#delete-link-with-confirmation)
  - [Ajax links with remote](#ajax-links-with-remote)
  - [link_to Variants](#link-to-variants)
  - [Hotwire](#hotwire-with-link-to)
  - [Conclusion](#link-to-conclusion)
- [button_to](#button-to)
  - [Definition](#button-to-definition)
  - [Syntax](#button-to-syntax)
  - [Submit with options](#submit-with-options)
  - [Hotwire](#hotwire-with-button-to)
  - [Conclusion](#button-to-conclusion)
- [Final Words](#final-words)
- [Frequently Asked Questions](#frequently-asked-questions)

#**link to**

##link to Definition

Let me guess, you found your way to this page by clicking on a link from another page, right? That's the beauty of the anchor element, which creates links between pages, files, and locations or external pages. In the world of Rails, we have amazing helper methods, including `link_to`, that make navigating through your Rails application a breeze. This helper generates an HTML `<a href=" ">...</a>` tag that directs you to a specified URL target. Here's the basic format of a `link_to` tag and its corresponding HTML link:

```ruby
<%= link_to 'Rails', 'https://rubyonrails.org/' %>
# => <a href=https://rubyonrails.org/'>Ruby on Rails</a>
```

Assuming you have a `User` model and a corresponding `user_path` helper.

```ruby
<%= link_to user.name, user_path(user) %>
=> <a href="/users/123">Ahmed Nadar</a>

<%= link_to car.type, car_path(@car) %>
# even better
<%= link_to car.type, @car %>
# => <a href="/cars/1">Tesla</a>
```

As you can see, with `link_to`, all you need is a string of text Ruby on Rails for the link's visible name, followed by the path to the destination URL. But that's not all `link_to` can do! It's able to recognize instances and generate related paths for them. This is useful when you have a list of items (objects) and you want to redirect the user to the show page of the selected item. In the example given, we are redirecting the user to the page of a car, where `@car` represents a specific instance of a car.

##link to Syntax

As we discovered earlier, the `link_to` helper method is pretty useful for creating anchor tags that link to specified URL targets. But did you know that the method's full syntax is even more powerful? That's right! The complete method signature includes additional parameters that allow you to customize the link even further. Here's the full signature of the `link_to` method: 

```ruby
link_to(name = nil, options = nil, html_options = nil, &block)
```

Let's break it down.

The `link_to` method accepts several parameters, with some being mandatory and others optional.

*`name`: This parameter by default is `nil`. It is the text that appears as the link's visible text. It is what you see on the page. If `name` is `nil`, the URL is used as the link visible text. `name` can be string, image tag, or a combination of both as we will see soon.

```ruby
<li><%= link_to 'Home', root_path %></li>
# => <a href="https://rubyonrails.org/">Home/</a>

<span><%= link_to "https://rubyonrails.org/" %></span>
# => <a href="https://rubyonrails.org/">https://rubyonrails.org/</a>
```

*`options`: is another parameter that `link_to` accepts. By default, it is `nil`. It is responsible for defining the URL or route for the link. If it is a string, it is represented as the URL of the link. If it is a hash, it follows the defined route. There are two styles of routes: the older-style parameters routes, which no one uses anymore, and the new-style named routes.

The older-style parameters routes use the keys `controller`, `action`, and `id` to specify the controller, action, and ID of the resource being linked to, respectively. It is not recommended to use this style of routing anymore.

```ruby
link_to "User", controller: "users", action: "show", id: @user
# => <a href="/users/show/1">User</a>
```

* And there's the current Rails style of RESTful routes, which is considered better practice.

```ruby
link_to "User", @user
# => <a href="/users/1">User</a>
```

*`html_options` is another parameter that the `link_to` accepts. It is nil by default, and it is used to define [HTML attributes](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Attributes) that will be added to the link's `a` tag. You can use this parameter to add `class`, `id`, `target`, `rel`, `type`, and `data` attributes to the link, among others. By doing this, you can customize the link's behaviour and appearance.

```ruby
link_to 'AvoHQ', 'https://avohq.io', class: 'to_home', target: '_blank'
# => <a href="https://avohq.io" class="to_home" target="_blank">AvoHQ</a>

# Adding a class and id to the link
link_to "AvoHQ", "https://avohq.io/", class: "btn btn-primary", id: "avohq-link"
# => <a href="https://avohq.io/" class="btn btn-primary" id="avohq-link">AvoHQ</a>
```

Here we create a link to AvoHQ's homepage with the visible text "AvoHQ". Additionally, it includes CSS `class` and `target` attributes that are added to the a tag of the link.

```ruby
link_to "Avo Blog", posts_path, id: "blog", class: "avo_blog"
# => <a href="/posts" class="avo_blog" id="blog">Avo Blog</a>
```

This code generates a link to AvoHQ's blog page with the text "Avo Blog" and a `CSS` and `id` attributes are added to the link's `a` tag.

```ruby
link_to "Comment section", user_path(@user, anchor: "section")
# => <a href="/users/1#section">Comment section</a>
```

This code generates a link to the comment section on the same user show page with the text "Comment section" and an `anchor` attribute added to the link to target that specific section.

```ruby
link_to "Avo Home", "http://www.avohq.io/", target: "_blank", rel: "nofollow"
# => <a href="http://www.avohq.io/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Avo Home</a>
```

This code generates a link to the Avo home page with the text "Avo Home", and it also adds the `target` and `rel` attributes to the link's `a` tag.

```ruby
link_to "Avo search", controller: "searches", query: "ruby on rails admin panel"
# => <a href="/searches?query=ruby+on+rails+admin+panel">Avo search</a>
```

This code generates a link to the search page with the text "Avo search". In addition, a controller with the name 'searches' and a query attribute with the value 'ruby on rails admin panel' is added to the link's a tag.

*`&block` parameter is optional and is `nil` by default. It's not used often but can be useful for making the code more readable and easier to understand. Imagine you have a long text that is hard to fit into the `name` parameter. In this case, you can pass the link text inside a block of code that generates the content of the link.

```ruby
<%= link_to(@car) do %>
  <strong><%= @car.name %></strong> -- <span>Check this car!</span>
<% end %>
<a href="/cars/1">
  <strong>Tesla</strong> -- <span>Check this car!</span>
</a>


<%= link_to "https://avohq.io/" do %>
  <strong>AvoHQ</strong> - The Best Rails Guide
<% end %>
<a href="https://avohq.io/">
  <strong>AvoHQ</strong> - The Best Rails Guide
</a>
```

Another example:

```ruby
<%= link_to blog_path(@blog) do %>
  <i class="fa fa-pencil"></i> # fontawesome icons
  Edit
<% end %>

# =>
<a href="/blogs/1">
  <i class="fa fa-pencil"></i>
  Edit
</a>
```

As you can see, this code generates a link to the `show` action of the `BlogController`, passing the `@blog` ID as a parameter. The link's content will consist of a Font Awesome icon and the text "Edit".

So far, we learned how `link_to` works in its default mode, which is the [GET request](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods). To refresh your memory, do you remember our fancy diagram from earlier? It illustrated the communication between the browser and the server, where a method was used to deliver the message of what the browser wants the server to do. If you don't recall, don't worry, it's normal to forget things. In this case, the `localhost/jobs` URL is clicked by a user, and a successful request with a 200/OK response takes the user to the `Jobs` page, which uses the `GET` request method.

![link_to syntax](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/yoxp2zn34ukozpk73s10.png)

![link_to syntax get reponse](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/leev2k0ca76ttku1avmr.png)

##Delete with link to

Did you know that there's another way `link_to` can navigate? Yes, it's true! This method uses a [DELETE request](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Methods) to delete a record or a specific instance. Let's say you have a `@post` instance and you want to delete it. In order to call the `destroy` action on the `PostController`, you need to use the `DELETE` request method. You can achieve this by passing the `method: :delete` hash as an option to the `link_to` helper. For example, on the same token, you will be able to pass any method defined in your controllers to the `link_to` helper. Here is how to use `delete` method:

```ruby
<%= link_to "Delete post", post_path(@post), method: "delete" %>
# => <a rel="nofollow" data-method="delete" href="/posts/1">Remove</a>
```

It is worth noting that the `rel="nofollow"` attribute is automatically added by Rails 'magic' as an added benefit for [Search Engine Optimization (SEO)](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/SEO).

##Delete Link With Confirmation

Deleting a record is a necessary action, but it can be harsh and irreversible. To ensure that the user agrees to such a drastic action, we developers might want to prompt them with a message asking for confirmation and to prevent accidental deletion using `confirm` method `{ confirm: "Are you sure?" }`. The easiest way to add this feature is with a simple JavaScript alert box that will ask the user to confirm their delete request. Guess what, Rails magic does it for you, again. The alert can be implemented as shown below:

```ruby
<%= link_to "Delete post", post_path(@post), method: "delete", { confirm: "Are you sure?" } %>
# => <a data-confirm="Are you sure?" rel="nofollow" data-method="delete" href="/jobs/1">Delete Post</a>
```

![delete link With Confirmation window](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/cheouiexirs9pdl160xh.png)

![delete link With Confirmation method/post](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ongw1u40sm9jbkfrhcg9.png)


![delete link With Confirmation method/delete](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/t3tazg4in139onsm18bn.png)

##Ajax links with remote

[Ajax](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Guide/AJAX) links, the superheroes of asynchronous requests that allow you to dynamically update your page content without the irritating full-page reloads. To create an Ajax link, all you need to do is use the `link_to` method with the `remote: true`. For instance, the following code creates an Ajax link that sends a GET request to the server when clicked:

```ruby
<%= link_to "Load More", "https://avohq.com/more", remote: true %>
```

When clicked, this link triggers an Ajax request to the specified URL, allowing your web page to update without any hiccups. With the power of JavaScript or other client-side technologies such as [Hotwire](https://hotwired.dev/) as we will discover soon, you can even process and display the server's response on your page.

##link to Variants

Rails not only empower you with the `link_to` magic implementation, but it has more variations up its sleeve! Oh, yeah! Each of these variants helps you avoid complex code and makes your code clean by doing a specific communication job. These variants are:

a-`link_to_unless_current(name, options = {}, html_options = {}, &block)`
Want to create a link only if it's not the current page? Try `link_to_unless_current!` It creates a link but returns the name instead if it's the current page.

```ruby
  <ul>
    <li><%= link_to_unless_current "Cars", cars_path %></li>
    <li><%= link_to_unless_current "Dashboard", dashboard_path %></li>
  </ul>

  # When you are on `/cars`, this template will output:
  # =>
  <ul>
    <li>Cars</li>
    <li><a href="/dashboard">Dashboard</a></li>
  </nav>
```

b-`link_to_if(condition, name, options = {}, html_options = {}, &block)`
Want to create a link only under certain conditions? Use `link_to_if!` It creates a link using options if a condition is true, otherwise, it returns the name.

```ruby
  <li>
    <%= link_to_unless(@current_user.nil?, 'Log In', new_user_registration_path %>
  </li>

  # If the user is NOT logged in...
  # =>
  <li><a href="/users/signin/">Log In</a></li>
```

c-`link_to_unless(condition, name, options = {}, html_options = {}, &block)`
Looking for a way to create a link only when a certain condition is false? Try `link_to_unless!` It creates a link tag using a URL from options unless the condition is true, otherwise, only the name is returned.

```ruby
  <li>
    <%= link_to_unless(@current_user.nil?, 'Log In', new_user_registration_path %>
  </li>

  # If the user is logged in...
  # =>

  <li><a href="/users/signin/">Log In</a></li>
```

##Hotwire with link to

If you think you have seen enough Rails magic, you are mistaken my friend. Rails have a new trick up its sleeve: [Hotwire](https://hotwired.dev/). And with the magical [Turbo](https://turbo.hotwired.dev/) tool that comes with it, you can create modern, interactive web applications with minimal, or sometimes no JavaScript at all, providing users with an incredibly smooth experience.

One of Turbo's key instruments is [Drive](https://turbo.hotwired.dev/handbook/drive), which enhances page-level navigation. It watches for link clicks and form submissions, performs them in the background, and updates the page without doing a full reload. And let me tell you, that's pretty darn amazing.

`link_to` default uses Turbo Drive for non-`GET` (`POST`, `DELETE`) requests, making it simple to create links that update the page content without a full reload. Perfect for actions like deleting, creating/updating records and displaying more content.

For example, let's say you want to create a link that uses Hotwire to submit a `DELETE` request to the server, with a confirmation dialog for the user to approve. Well, look no further:

```ruby
  <%= link_to
    "Delete Post",
    post_path(post),
    method: :delete,
    data: { turbo_confirm: "Are you sure?" }
  %>
```

When clicked, this link sends a `DELETE` request to the server and displays a confirmation dialog for the user, (we have seen this before, nothing new here, right)! Turbo then processes the server response, and the page content is updated without a full page reload (That's magic). This feature makes it easy to create interactive web applications with minimal or no JavaScript and a smooth user experience. Why not give it a try and see the magic for yourself?

##link to Conclusion

Phew, it has been a journey. We've navigated our way through the astonishing Rails web navigation system. `link_to` is one of the most powerful tools in Rails world. Effortlessly, you can generate HTML tags that glide you to pages, files, and beyond. Its signature is versatile, you can add blocks, instance variables, media, confirmation messages, and even delete objects. Additionally, it offers seamless variants, making link creation clutter-free, logical and magical.

#button to

##button-to-definition

Similar to `link_to`, `button_to` is another handy helper method in Rails that creates a button element with a specified action. This helper generates a nifty `HTML` form `<form action=" "><button>...</button></form>` tag that performs the specified action submit when clicked. Here's the basic format of a button_to tag and its corresponding HTML form:

```ruby
  <%= button_to "Delete", post_path(@post), method: :delete %>
  # =>
  <form action="/posts/1" method="post">
    <input type="hidden" name="_method" value="delete" />
    <input type="submit" value="Delete" />
  </form>
```

As you can see, with button_to, you need to specify the action (in this case, "Delete"), followed by the path to the destination URL `(post_path(@post))`, and the method used for the action `(method: :delete)`. When clicked, this button sends a `DELETE` request to the specified URL. button_to. And that's not all! button_to accepts other options such as `:class`, `:disabled`, and `:form_class` to customize the form element and its children.

It's particularly useful for actions that require more than a simple link, such as creating or deleting records in a database. By default, button_to generates a form element with a hidden input for the method and a submit button with the specified label, making it easy to perform complex actions without having to write a lot of HTML and JavaScript code.

##button to Syntax

Ah, `button_to` - another gem in the Rails toolbox! As we discovered earlier, `button_to` is a helper method that generates a form element with a specified action, which is executed when the button is clicked. By now you would know that the method's full syntax is even more powerful. The complete method signature includes additional parameters that allow you to customize button_to even further. Here's the full signature of the `button_to` method: `**button_to**(name = nil, options = nil, html_options = nil, &block)`

Let's break it down.

*`name`: This parameter is optional and represents the text that appears on the button. If no `name` is provided, the `button_to` method will use the URL as the button text. You can use a string, an image tag, or a combination of both as the `name` argument.

```ruby
  <li><%= button_to "Delete", post_path(@post), method: :delete %></li>
  # =>
  <form action="/posts/1" method="post">
    <input type="hidden" name="_method" value="delete" />
    <input type="submit" value="Delete" />
  </form>
```

*`options`: This parameter is optional and can take several forms. If it is a string, it is interpreted as the URL of the button's destination. If it is a hash, it can include a `:controller`, `:action`, and `:id` keys to specify the controller, action, and ID of the resource being linked to, respectively (Similar to `link_to`). Other options include :method to specify the HTTP method used for the action (e.g., `:post`, `:put`, `:delete`), and `:data` to specify additional data to be sent with the request.

The `options` parameter of `button_to` can take a hash with additional options, like `:params`, which specifies any additional parameters to be sent with the request. Here's an example:

```ruby
  button_to "New Article", new_article_path, params: { time: Time.now }
  # =>
  <form action="/articles/new" method="post">
    <input type="hidden" name="authenticity_token" value="[AUTH_TOKEN]" />
    <input type="hidden" name="time" value="[CURRENT_TIME]" />
    <button type="submit">New Article</button>
  </form>
```

Here, a form element is generated with an action of `/articles/new` and a method of `post`. The `params` option is used to add a hidden input field named "time" with the value of the current time. When the button is clicked, the form is submitted and the specified action is performed on the server.

*`html_options` is an optional parameter of the `button_to`, Is `nil` by default and is used to add HTML attributes to the button's `form` and `button` tags. Here are some examples of using the various `html_options`:

-`:method`: This option specifies the HTTP verb (delete) to be used for the form submission. Here's an example:

```ruby
  button_to "Delete", post_path(@post), method: :delete
  # =>
  <form action="/posts/:id" method="post">
    <input type="hidden" name="_method" value="delete" />
    <input type="submit" name="commit" value="Delete" data-disable-with="Delete" />
    <input type="hidden" name="authenticity_token" value="[AUTH_TOKEN]" />
  </form>
```

-`:disabled`: This option generates a disabled button. Here's an example:

```ruby
button_to "Save", save_path, disabled: true
# =>
<form action="/save" method="post">
  <input type="hidden" name="authenticity_token" value="[AUTH_TOKEN]" />
  <button type="submit" disabled="disabled">Save</button>
</form>
```

-`:data`: This option is used to add custom data attributes. Here's an example:

```ruby
button_to "Submit", submit_path, data: { confirm: "Are you sure you want to submit?" }
# =>
<form class="button_to" method="post" action="/submit">
  <input type="hidden" name="_method" value="post">
  <input type="hidden" name="authenticity_token" value="[AUTH_TOKEN]">
  <button data-confirm="Are you sure you want to submit?" type="submit">Submit</button>
</form>
```

-`:remote`: This option allows the unnoticeable JavaScript drivers to control the form's submission behaviour. By default, this is an AJAX submit. Here's an example:

```ruby
button_to "Delete", post_path(@post), method: :delete, remote: true
# =>
<form class="button_to" method="post" action="/posts/1" data-remote="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="_method" value="delete" />
  <input type="hidden" name="authenticity_token" value="[AUTH_TOKEN]" />
  <button>Delete</button>
</form>
```

-`:form`: This option is a hash of attributes to be added to the `form` tag. Here's an example:

```ruby
button_to "Create", create_path, form: { id: "create-form", class: "create-form" }
# =>
<form accept-charset="UTF-8" action="/create" class="create-form" id="create-form" method="post">
  <input type="hidden" name="authenticity_token" value="[AUTH_TOKEN]" />
  <button name="button" type="submit">Create</button>
</form>
```

-`:form_class`: This option is used to specify the class of the form within which the submit button will be placed. Here's an example:

```ruby
  button_to "Save", save_path, form_class: "save-form"
  # =>
  <form action="/save" class="save-form" method="post">
    <input type="hidden" name="authenticity_token" value="[AUTH_TOKEN]" />
    <button type="submit"> Save </button>
  </form>
```

-`:params`: This option is a hash of parameters to be rendered as hidden fields within the form. Here's an example:

```ruby
  button_to "New Car", new_car_path, params: { time: Time.now }
  # =>
  <form action="/cars/new" method="post">
    <input type="hidden" name="time" value="[CURRENT_TIME]" />
    <button type="submit">New Car</button>
  </form>
```

-`&block` is an optional parameter of the `button_to`. It is nil by default and can be used to generate custom content for the button. This is useful when you want to add an icon or other custom HTML to the button.

```ruby
<%= button_to post_path(@post) do %>
	<i class="fa fa-trash"></i>  # fontawesome icons
	Delete
<% end %>

# =>
<form action="/posts/1" method="post">
  <input type="hidden" name="_method" value="delete" />
  <button type="submit">
    <i class="fa fa-trash"></i>
    Delete
  </button>
</form>
```

This code will generate a delete button with an icon and the text "Delete". The block is used to generate the content of the button, which is then wrapped in a form that sends a `DELETE` request to the specified path when clicked. Get creative with your buttons and make them stand out!

```ruby
<%= button_to user_path(@user) do %>
	<%= image_tag("delete.png") %>
<% end %>
# =>
<form action="/users/1" method="post">
	<input type="hidden" name="_method" value="delete">
	<button type="submit">
		<img src="/assets/delete.png">
	</button>
</form>
```

This will create a button with an image of a trash can that, when clicked, sends a `DELETE` request to the path specified by `user_path(@user)`.

##Submit with options

Another example of `button_to` with a few options and `html_options`.

So, what we have here is a `button_to` method that generates a form with a button inside. This button is used to generate a summary of a company's description using AI.

![button_to submit with options](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/n5trc7lkvqy0fdcmh7w9.png)

```ruby
<%= button_to "Generate Description Summary",
	description_summary_company_path(@company),
	method: :patch,
	class:'btn bg-indigo-50 disabled:opacity-50',
	data: { disable_with: "A short description summary in the making..."}
%>
# =>
<form class="button_to"
	method="post"
	action="/startups/gamucatex/description_summary">
	<input type="hidden" name="_method" value="patch" autocomplete="off">
	<button class="btn bg-indigo-50 disabled:opacity-50"
		data-disable-with="A short description summary in the making..."
		type="submit">
		Generate Description Summary
	</button>
	<input type="hidden"
		name="authenticity_token"
		value="yTWxr5_58rb_LqRQl36wgQpFh9K7a....."
		autocomplete="off">
</form>
```

The generated HTML code includes a form tag with a `method` of "`post`" and an action attribute set to the `description_summary_company_path` route. The `method` is overridden by the method option, which sets it to "`patch`" because most browsers don't support methods other than **"`GET`"** and **"`POST`"** when it comes to submitting forms. Amazingly, Rails works around this issue by matching other methods over `POST` with a hidden input named "`_method`", which is set to reflect the desired method `patch`.

The HTML options include a `class` attribute, which sets the CSS class for the button to `"btn bg-indigo-50 disabled:opacity-50"`. This will give the button a nice background colour and make it slightly transparent when disabled. I'm using [TailwindCSS](https://tailwindcss.com/) for styling.

There is a `data` attribute with a `disable_with` key that sets the text to display when the button is clicked, which is "A short description summary in the making...". This helps to provide feedback to the user that the button is doing something.

Finally, the generated HTML code includes a hidden input tag with a CSRF token authenticity_token is included to protect against [cross-site request forgery (CSRF)](https://guides.rubyonrails.org/security.html#cross-site-request-forgery-csrf) attacks.

##Hotwire with button_to

Similar to `link_to`, Hotwire and its tools, can enhance `button_to` to create modern, interactive web applications. By default, `button_to` generates a form with a button that sends a POST request to the server when clicked. However, with Hotwire and the Turbo tool, `button_to` can be used to create smooth, fast user experiences without a full page reload.

For example, let's say you want to create a button that sends a `DELETE` request to the server, with a confirmation dialogue for the user to approve. With Hotwire, you can use the `data-turbo-confirm` attribute to display a confirmation dialogue to the user, just like with `link_to`. Here's an example:

```ruby
<%= button_to
	"Delete Post",
	post_path(post),
	method: :delete,
	data: { turbo_confirm: "Are you sure?" }
%>
```

When you click the button created with `button_to`, it will submit a `DELETE` request to the server and show a confirmation dialogue, similar to `link_to`. Then Turbo comes in, processes the server response, and voila! The page content is updated without any page refresh with little or no JavaScript.

##button to Conclusion

Well, well, well. We've been exploring the magnificent world of Rails navigation tools, and `button_to` is yet another powerful one. This incredible helper method allows us with minimal effort, you can create buttons that can perform a variety of actions such as submitting forms, sending requests to the server, and updating page content. `button_to` also supports various options such as `method`, `params`, `class`, and `data`, allowing for even more flexibility and customization. With the integration of Hotwire, `button_to` can provide users with a smooth and fast experience without the need for excessive JavaScript. Overall, `button_to` is a valuable addition to any Rails developer's toolkit.

##Final Words

After all is said and done, `link_to` and `button_to` are both amazing helpers in the Rails world. With the help of Hotwire and Turbo, they offer fast and smooth navigation without needing to write tons of JavaScript. Whether you need to generate simple links or complex buttons, these helpers have got you covered. So, go ahead and use them to create your own magical and interactive web applications with ease!

##Frequently Asked Questions

**1- What is `link_to` and `button_to` in Rails?**

`link_to` and `button_to` are helper methods in Ruby on Rails that generate HTML links and buttons, respectively. They are commonly used in views to create hyperlinks and form submissions that send requests to the server.

**2- What is the difference between `link_to` and `button_to`?**

The main difference between `link_to` and `button_to` is that `link_to` generates a hyperlink that navigates the user to a new page, while `button_to` creates a form that submits a request to the server without navigating to a new page. However, both methods can be configured to use Ajax requests with Hotwire Turbo Drive in Rails 7, which is amazing!

**3- How do I use `link_to` and `button_to` in Rails?**

Both methods accept three required parameters: the link text or button label, the URL to which the request should be sent, and the HTTP method to use (`GET`, `POST`, `PATCH`, `PUT`, `DELETE`). `link_to` also accepts optional parameters for specifying attributes such as class, id, and data. `button_to` accepts similar optional parameters, such as method, remote, `form_class`, and `params`.

**4- How do I add a confirmation message to `link_to` and `button_to`?**

You can add a confirmation message to `link_to` and `button_to` by including the `data: { confirm: "Are you sure?" }` option. When the link or button is clicked, a confirmation dialogue box will be displayed with the specified message.

**5- How do I add custom HTML to `link_to` and `button_to`? **
You can use a block to add custom HTML to `link_to` and `button_to`. Simply wrap the link text or button label in a block and include any additional HTML or Ruby code inside the block. For example:

```ruby
<%= link_to post_path(@post) do %>
  <i class="fa fa-pencil"></i>
  Edit Post
<% end %>
```

**6- Can I use `link_to` and `button_to` with Rails Hotwire?**

Yes, you can use `link_to` and `button_to` with Rails Hotwire by adding the `data-turbo="false"` attribute to the link or button. This will disable Turbo Drive for that link or button, and the request will be processed with a full page reload. Alternatively, you can configure `link_to` and `button_to` to use Turbo Drive for non-`GET` requests by default in Rails 7 and later versions.