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Rails Hotwire
Master Hotwire for building modern, reactive Rails applications using Turbo and Stimulus without requiring heavy JavaScript frameworks.
Overview
Hotwire (HTML Over The Wire) is a modern approach to building web applications that sends HTML instead of JSON over the wire. It consists of Turbo (for delivering server-rendered HTML) and Stimulus (for JavaScript sprinkles).
Installation and Setup
Installing Hotwire
# Add to Gemfile
bundle add turbo-rails stimulus-rails
# Install Turbo
rails turbo:install
# Install Stimulus
rails stimulus:install
# Install Redis for ActionCable (Turbo Streams)
bundle add redis
# Configure ActionCable
rails generate channel turbo_stream
Configuration
# config/cable.yml
development:
adapter: redis
url: redis://localhost:6379/1
production:
adapter: redis
url: <%= ENV.fetch("REDIS_URL") { "redis://localhost:6379/1" } %>
channel_prefix: myapp_production
# config/routes.rb
Rails.application.routes.draw do
mount ActionCable.server => '/cable'
end
Core Patterns
1. Turbo Drive (Page Acceleration)
# Turbo Drive is automatic, but you can customize behavior
# app/views/layouts/application.html.erb
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<%= csrf_meta_tags %>
<%= csp_meta_tag %>
<%= turbo_refreshes_with method: :morph, scroll: :preserve %>
</head>
<body>
<%= yield %>
</body>
</html>
# Disable Turbo for specific links
<%= link_to "Legacy Page", legacy_path, data: { turbo: false } %>
# Disable Turbo for forms
<%= form_with url: upload_path, data: { turbo: false } do |f| %>
<%= f.file_field :document %>
<% end %>
# Custom progress bar
<style>
.turbo-progress-bar {
background: linear-gradient(to right, #4ade80, #3b82f6);
}
</style>
2. Turbo Frames (Lazy Loading & Decomposition)
# app/views/posts/index.html.erb
<div id="posts">
<% @posts.each do |post| %>
<%= turbo_frame_tag dom_id(post) do %>
<%= render post %>
<% end %>
<% end %>
</div>
# app/views/posts/_post.html.erb
<article>
<h2><%= post.title %></h2>
<p><%= post.body %></p>
<%= link_to "Edit", edit_post_path(post) %>
<%= link_to "Delete", post_path(post),
data: { turbo_method: :delete,
turbo_confirm: "Are you sure?" } %>
</article>
# app/views/posts/edit.html.erb
<%= turbo_frame_tag dom_id(@post) do %>
<%= form_with model: @post do |f| %>
<%= f.text_field :title %>
<%= f.text_area :body %>
<%= f.submit %>
<% end %>
<% end %>
# Lazy loading frames
<%= turbo_frame_tag "analytics", src: analytics_path, loading: :lazy do %>
<p>Loading analytics...</p>
<% end %>
# Target different frames
<%= link_to "Show Post", post_path(post),
data: { turbo_frame: "modal" } %>
# Break out of frame
<%= link_to "New Page", new_post_path,
data: { turbo_frame: "_top" } %>
3. Turbo Streams (Real-time Updates)
# app/controllers/posts_controller.rb
class PostsController < ApplicationController
def create
@post = Post.new(post_params)
respond_to do |format|
if @post.save
format.turbo_stream
format.html { redirect_to @post }
else
format.html { render :new, status: :unprocessable_entity }
end
end
end
def destroy
@post = Post.find(params[:id])
@post.destroy
respond_to do |format|
format.turbo_stream { render turbo_stream: turbo_stream.remove(@post) }
format.html { redirect_to posts_path }
end
end
end
# app/views/posts/create.turbo_stream.erb
<%= turbo_stream.prepend "posts", partial: "posts/post",
locals: { post: @post } %>
<%= turbo_stream.update "new_post", "" %>
<%= turbo_stream.replace "flash",
partial: "shared/flash",
locals: { message: "Post created!" } %>
# Multiple Turbo Stream actions
<%= turbo_stream.append "notifications" do %>
<div class="notification">New post created!</div>
<% end %>
<%= turbo_stream.update "post_count",
Post.count %>
<%= turbo_stream.remove "loading_spinner" %>
<%= turbo_stream.replace dom_id(@post),
partial: "posts/post",
locals: { post: @post } %>
4. Broadcasting Updates
# app/models/post.rb
class Post < ApplicationRecord
broadcasts_to ->(post) { [post.user, "posts"] }, inserts_by: :prepend
# Or more explicit
after_create_commit -> {
broadcast_prepend_to "posts",
partial: "posts/post",
locals: { post: self },
target: "posts"
}
after_update_commit -> {
broadcast_replace_to "posts",
partial: "posts/post",
locals: { post: self },
target: dom_id(self)
}
after_destroy_commit -> {
broadcast_remove_to "posts", target: dom_id(self)
}
end
# app/views/posts/index.html.erb
<%= turbo_stream_from "posts" %>
<div id="posts">
<%= render @posts %>
</div>
# Broadcast to specific users
class Comment < ApplicationRecord
belongs_to :post
after_create_commit -> {
broadcast_prepend_to [post.user, :comments],
partial: "comments/comment",
locals: { comment: self },
target: "comments"
}
end
# app/views/posts/show.html.erb
<%= turbo_stream_from current_user, :comments %>
5. Stimulus Controllers
// app/javascript/controllers/clipboard_controller.js
import { Controller } from "@hotwired/stimulus"
export default class extends Controller {
static targets = ["source", "button"]
static values = {
successMessage: String,
errorMessage: String
}
copy(event) {
event.preventDefault()
navigator.clipboard.writeText(this.sourceTarget.value).then(
() => this.showSuccess(),
() => this.showError()
)
}
showSuccess() {
this.buttonTarget.textContent = this.successMessageValue || "Copied!"
setTimeout(() => {
this.buttonTarget.textContent = "Copy"
}, 2000)
}
showError() {
this.buttonTarget.textContent = this.errorMessageValue || "Failed!"
}
}
<!-- app/views/posts/show.html.erb -->
<div data-controller="clipboard"
data-clipboard-success-message-value="Copied to clipboard!">
<input type="text"
value="<%= @post.share_url %>"
data-clipboard-target="source"
readonly>
<button data-clipboard-target="button"
data-action="click->clipboard#copy">
Copy
</button>
</div>
6. Form Validation with Stimulus
// app/javascript/controllers/form_controller.js
import { Controller } from "@hotwired/stimulus"
export default class extends Controller {
static targets = ["email", "password", "submit"]
static classes = ["error"]
connect() {
this.validateForm()
}
validateField(event) {
const field = event.target
const isValid = field.checkValidity()
if (isValid) {
field.classList.remove(this.errorClass)
} else {
field.classList.add(this.errorClass)
}
this.validateForm()
}
validateForm() {
const isValid = this.element.checkValidity()
this.submitTarget.disabled = !isValid
}
async submit(event) {
event.preventDefault()
if (!this.element.checkValidity()) {
return
}
const formData = new FormData(this.element)
const response = await fetch(this.element.action, {
method: this.element.method,
body: formData,
headers: {
"Accept": "text/vnd.turbo-stream.html"
}
})
if (response.ok) {
const html = await response.text()
Turbo.renderStreamMessage(html)
}
}
}
<%= form_with model: @user,
data: { controller: "form",
form_error_class: "border-red-500" } do |f| %>
<%= f.email_field :email,
required: true,
data: { form_target: "email",
action: "blur->form#validateField" } %>
<%= f.password_field :password,
required: true,
minlength: 8,
data: { form_target: "password",
action: "blur->form#validateField" } %>
<%= f.submit "Sign Up",
data: { form_target: "submit",
action: "click->form#submit" } %>
<% end %>
7. Infinite Scroll
// app/javascript/controllers/infinite_scroll_controller.js
import { Controller } from "@hotwired/stimulus"
export default class extends Controller {
static targets = ["entries", "pagination"]
static values = {
url: String,
page: Number
}
initialize() {
this.scroll = this.scroll.bind(this)
}
connect() {
this.createObserver()
}
disconnect() {
this.observer.disconnect()
}
createObserver() {
this.observer = new IntersectionObserver(
entries => this.handleIntersect(entries),
{ threshold: 1.0 }
)
this.observer.observe(this.paginationTarget)
}
handleIntersect(entries) {
entries.forEach(entry => {
if (entry.isIntersecting) {
this.loadMore()
}
})
}
async loadMore() {
const url = this.paginationTarget.querySelector("a[rel='next']")?.href
if (!url) return
this.pageValue++
const response = await fetch(url, {
headers: {
Accept: "text/vnd.turbo-stream.html"
}
})
if (response.ok) {
const html = await response.text()
Turbo.renderStreamMessage(html)
}
}
}
<!-- app/views/posts/index.html.erb -->
<div data-controller="infinite-scroll">
<div id="posts" data-infinite-scroll-target="entries">
<%= render @posts %>
</div>
<div data-infinite-scroll-target="pagination">
<%= paginate @posts %>
</div>
</div>
<!-- app/views/posts/index.turbo_stream.erb -->
<%= turbo_stream.append "posts" do %>
<%= render @posts %>
<% end %>
<%= turbo_stream.replace "pagination" do %>
<%= paginate @posts %>
<% end %>
8. Modal Dialogs
// app/javascript/controllers/modal_controller.js
import { Controller } from "@hotwired/stimulus"
export default class extends Controller {
static targets = ["container", "backdrop"]
connect() {
document.body.classList.add("overflow-hidden")
}
disconnect() {
document.body.classList.remove("overflow-hidden")
}
close(event) {
if (event.target === this.backdropTarget ||
event.currentTarget.dataset.closeModal === "true") {
this.element.remove()
}
}
closeWithKeyboard(event) {
if (event.key === "Escape") {
this.element.remove()
}
}
}
<!-- app/views/posts/_modal.html.erb -->
<div data-controller="modal"
data-action="keyup@window->modal#closeWithKeyboard"
class="fixed inset-0 z-50">
<div data-modal-target="backdrop"
data-action="click->modal#close"
class="fixed inset-0 bg-black bg-opacity-50"></div>
<div data-modal-target="container"
class="fixed inset-0 flex items-center justify-center">
<div class="bg-white rounded-lg p-6 max-w-lg">
<%= turbo_frame_tag "modal_content" do %>
<%= yield %>
<% end %>
<button data-close-modal="true"
data-action="click->modal#close">
Close
</button>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Trigger modal -->
<%= link_to "Edit Post",
edit_post_path(@post),
data: { turbo_frame: "modal" } %>
9. Autosave with Stimulus
// app/javascript/controllers/autosave_controller.js
import { Controller } from "@hotwired/stimulus"
export default class extends Controller {
static targets = ["status"]
static values = {
delay: { type: Number, default: 1000 },
url: String
}
connect() {
this.timeout = null
this.saving = false
}
save() {
clearTimeout(this.timeout)
this.timeout = setTimeout(() => {
this.persist()
}, this.delayValue)
}
async persist() {
if (this.saving) return
this.saving = true
this.showStatus("Saving...")
const formData = new FormData(this.element)
try {
const response = await fetch(this.urlValue, {
method: "PATCH",
body: formData,
headers: {
"X-CSRF-Token": document.querySelector("[name='csrf-token']").content,
"Accept": "application/json"
}
})
if (response.ok) {
this.showStatus("Saved", "success")
} else {
this.showStatus("Error saving", "error")
}
} catch (error) {
this.showStatus("Error saving", "error")
} finally {
this.saving = false
}
}
showStatus(message, type = "info") {
this.statusTarget.textContent = message
this.statusTarget.className = `status-${type}`
setTimeout(() => {
this.statusTarget.textContent = ""
}, 2000)
}
}
<%= form_with model: @post,
data: { controller: "autosave",
autosave_url_value: post_path(@post),
action: "input->autosave#save" } do |f| %>
<div data-autosave-target="status"></div>
<%= f.text_field :title %>
<%= f.text_area :body %>
<% end %>
10. Search with Debouncing
// app/javascript/controllers/search_controller.js
import { Controller } from "@hotwired/stimulus"
export default class extends Controller {
static targets = ["input", "results"]
static values = {
url: String,
delay: { type: Number, default: 300 }
}
connect() {
this.timeout = null
}
search() {
clearTimeout(this.timeout)
this.timeout = setTimeout(() => {
this.performSearch()
}, this.delayValue)
}
async performSearch() {
const query = this.inputTarget.value
if (query.length < 2) {
this.resultsTarget.innerHTML = ""
return
}
const url = new URL(this.urlValue)
url.searchParams.set("q", query)
const response = await fetch(url, {
headers: {
Accept: "text/vnd.turbo-stream.html"
}
})
if (response.ok) {
const html = await response.text()
Turbo.renderStreamMessage(html)
}
}
clear() {
this.inputTarget.value = ""
this.resultsTarget.innerHTML = ""
}
}
<div data-controller="search"
data-search-url-value="<%= search_posts_path %>">
<input type="text"
data-search-target="input"
data-action="input->search#search"
placeholder="Search posts...">
<button data-action="click->search#clear">Clear</button>
<div id="search-results" data-search-target="results"></div>
</div>
Best Practices
- Use Turbo Frames for isolation - Scope updates to specific parts
- Broadcast model changes - Keep all clients synchronized
- Progressive enhancement - Ensure functionality without JavaScript
- Lazy load frames - Improve initial page load performance
- Use Stimulus for sprinkles - Keep JavaScript minimal and focused
- Leverage Turbo Streams - Update multiple parts of the page
- Handle errors gracefully - Provide fallbacks for network issues
- Cache appropriately - Use HTTP caching with Turbo
- Test real-time features - Verify broadcasts work correctly
- Optimize database queries - Prevent N+1 with includes/preload
Common Pitfalls
- Over-using Turbo Frames - Not everything needs to be a frame
- Missing CSRF tokens - Forgetting tokens in AJAX requests
- Race conditions - Not handling concurrent broadcasts
- Memory leaks - Not disconnecting ActionCable subscriptions
- Flash message issues - Flash persisting across Turbo requests
- Breaking browser history - Improper Turbo navigation
- SEO concerns - Not considering search engine crawlers
- Form state loss - Losing unsaved data on navigation
- Accessibility issues - Not managing focus and ARIA attributes
- Over-engineering - Using Hotwire when simple HTML suffices
When to Use
- Building modern Rails applications
- Creating real-time collaborative features
- Implementing live updates without polling
- Building single-page-like experiences
- Reducing JavaScript complexity
- Progressive enhancement scenarios
- Mobile-friendly responsive interfaces
- Admin dashboards with live data
- Chat and messaging applications
- Live notifications and feeds
Resources
Weekly Installs
63
Repository
thebushidocollective/han
GitHub Stars
130
First Seen
Jan 22, 2026
Security Audits
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Installed on
codex59
opencode57
gemini-cli55
claude-code53
github-copilot51
kimi-cli46
