Rails Flash Notice Via Ajax

Have you ever looked for a way to display flash notices in your Rails application using Ajax? Well, look no further because we've got you covered! Integrating Rails flash notices via Ajax can provide a smoother user experience by updating content dynamically without needing a full page refresh.

To get started, make sure you have a basic understanding of Rails and Ajax. If you're new to this, don't worry, we'll walk you through the process step by step.

First, ensure you have the Rails gem 'jquery-rails' added to your Gemfile. This gem will provide the necessary JavaScript libraries for making Ajax requests. You can add it by including the following line in your Gemfile:

gem 'jquery-rails'

After adding the gem, run bundle install to install it in your Rails application.

Next, let's create a new partial file to handle the flash notices. In your views folder, create a new file called `_flash_messages.html.erb`. This partial file will contain the HTML structure to display the flash notices. You can customize this file based on your application's design.

Here's an example of how you can structure the `_flash_messages.html.erb` file:

<div class="flash ">
    
  </div>

Now, let's update the layout file to render the flash messages using our new partial. In your application layout (usually located in `app/views/layouts/application.html.erb`), include the following line where you want the flash messages to be displayed:

With these steps in place, you can now handle the Ajax request to display flash messages without a page reload. Let's create a JavaScript file to handle this functionality. In your `app/assets/javascripts` folder, create a new file called `flash_messages.js`.

In the `flash_messages.js` file, add the following code:

document.addEventListener('turbolinks:load', function() {
  $(document).ajaxComplete(function(event, xhr) {
    var message = xhr.getResponseHeader('X-Message');
    var type = xhr.getResponseHeader('X-Message-Type');

    if (message) {
      $('.flash.' + type).text(message);
    }
  });
});

This JavaScript code listens for Ajax request completion events and updates the flash message accordingly.

Finally, ensure your controller actions respond to Ajax requests correctly. You can set flash messages in your controller actions as usual, and Rails will handle the rest.

That's it! You've successfully implemented Rails flash notices via Ajax in your application. Give it a try, and see how it enhances the user experience by providing instant feedback without disrupting the flow of your application. Happy coding!