Rails Controller Patterns

Quick Reference

When to Use This Skill

• Generating new Rails controllers
• Reviewing existing controllers for best practices
• Implementing RESTful actions (index, show, new, create, edit, update, destroy)
• Adding authorization with Pundit
• Handling nested resources
• Implementing state transitions (submissions, approvals, activations)
• Bulk operations on resources

Core Patterns at a Glance

Standard CRUD Controller:

class ResourcesController < ApplicationController
  before_action :set_resource, only: %i[show edit update destroy]

  def index
    @resources = policy_scope(Resource)
  end

  def show; end

  def new
    @resource = authorize Resource.new
  end

  def create
    @resource = authorize Resource.new(resource_params)
    @resource.save ? redirect_to(@resource, notice: 'Successfully Created Resource') : render('new', status: :unprocessable_content)
  end

  def edit; end

  def update
    @resource.update(resource_params) ? redirect_to(@resource, notice: 'Successfully Updated Resource') : render('edit', status: :unprocessable_content)
  end

  def destroy
    @resource.destroy
    redirect_to resources_url, notice: 'Successfully Deleted Resource'
  end

  private

  def set_resource
    @resource = authorize Resource.find(params[:id])
  end

  def resource_params
    params.expect(resource: %i[attr1 attr2])
  end
end

Namespaced State Controller:

class Resources::StatesController < ApplicationController
  before_action :set_resource
  before_action :ensure_valid_state, only: :create

  def create
    @resource.activate!
    redirect_to resources_path, notice: 'Resource activated.'
  end

  def destroy
    @resource.deactivate!
    redirect_to resources_path, notice: 'Resource deactivated.'
  end

  private

  def set_resource
    @resource = current_user.resources.find(params[:resource_id])
  end

  def ensure_valid_state
    redirect_to(resources_path, alert: 'Invalid state') unless @resource.can_activate?
  end
end

Decision Tree

Need to add controller functionality?
│
├─ Standard CRUD operations (list, view, create, edit, delete)?
│  └─ Use: Standard RESTful Controller Pattern
│
├─ State transitions (submit, approve, activate, publish)?
│  └─ Use: Namespaced State Controller (create/destroy actions)
│
├─ Bulk operations (bulk submit, bulk delete)?
│  └─ Use: Namespaced Bulk Controller (create action only)
│
├─ Nested under parent resource?
│  └─ Use: Nested RESTful Controller Pattern
│
└─ Complex authorization rules?
   └─ Add: Policy scopes and explicit authorization checks

Essential Patterns

1. Authorization (Pundit)

Pattern: Authorize all resource interactions using authorize or policy_scope.

# Collections - use policy_scope
def index
  @products = policy_scope(Product)
end

# New instances - authorize the class
def new
  @product = authorize Product.new
end

# Existing instances - authorize in set method
def set_product
  @product = authorize Product.find(params[:id])
end

Rules:

• policy_scope() for collections (index)
• authorize ClassName.new() for new records (new, create)
• authorize in set_* methods for existing records
• Never skip authorization on resource operations

2. Before Actions

Pattern: Extract common setup logic with explicit action scoping.

# Resource loading (most common)
before_action :set_product, only: %i[show edit update destroy]

# Parent resource loading (nested)
before_action :set_company
before_action :set_employee, only: %i[show edit update destroy]

# State validation
before_action :ensure_pending, only: :create
before_action :ensure_stopped, only: :create

Rules:

• Always use only: or except:
• Name descriptively: set_[resource], ensure_[state], require_[permission]
• Order matters - execute in declaration order
• Keep methods focused on single responsibility

State Validation Example:

def ensure_pending
  return if @resource.pending?
  redirect_to resources_path, alert: 'Must be pending.'
end

3. RESTful Action Patterns

Index - List all resources:

def index
  @resources = policy_scope(Resource)
end

Show - Display one resource:

def show
  # Resource set via before_action
  # Load scoped associations if needed
  @related = policy_scope(@resource.related_items)
end

New - Form for new resource:

def new
  @resource = authorize Resource.new
end

Create - Save new resource:

def create
  @resource = authorize Resource.new(resource_params)
  if @resource.save
    redirect_to @resource, notice: 'Successfully Created Resource'
  else
    render :new, status: :unprocessable_content
  end
end

Edit - Form for existing resource:

def edit
  # Resource set via before_action
end

Update - Save changes to resource:

def update
  if @resource.update(resource_params)
    redirect_to @resource, notice: 'Successfully Updated Resource'
  else
    render :edit, status: :unprocessable_content
  end
end

Destroy - Delete resource:

def destroy
  @resource.destroy
  redirect_to resources_url, notice: 'Successfully Deleted Resource'
end

4. Strong Parameters

Pattern: Define permitted attributes in private method.

def resource_params
  params.expect(
    resource: [
      :simple_attr,
      :another_attr,
      nested_attrs: %i[id attr1 attr2 _destroy],
      array_attrs: [],
      multiple_ids: []
    ]
  )
end

Rules:

• Use params.expect(model: [...])
• Nested attributes: {nested_attrs: %i[id attr _destroy]}
• Arrays: {array_attr: []}
• Include :id for update, _destroy for deletion in nested attributes

5. HTTP Status Codes

# Success - redirects (default 302, no status needed)
redirect_to @resource, notice: 'Success'

# Validation failure - render with unprocessable_content
render :new, status: :unprocessable_content    # 422
render :edit, status: :unprocessable_content   # 422

# Other statuses (rare in controllers)
head :no_content                               # 204
head :forbidden                                # 403
head :not_found                                # 404

Rules:

• Redirects never need explicit status
• Failed validations: :unprocessable_content (422)
• Turbo requires proper status codes for error handling

6. Flash Messages

Pattern: Consistent, user-friendly messaging.

# Success (notice:)
redirect_to @product, notice: 'Successfully Created Product'
redirect_to @product, notice: 'Successfully Updated Product'
redirect_to products_url, notice: 'Successfully Deleted Product'

# Errors (alert:)
redirect_to products_path, alert: 'Must be pending to submit.'
redirect_to products_path, alert: 'Cannot delete active product.'

Rules:

• Format: Successfully [Action] [Resource]
• Use notice: for success
• Use alert: for errors/warnings
• Keep concise and action-oriented
• Title case for resource names

7. Naming Conventions

# Controllers
ProductsController < ApplicationController
Admin::ProductsController < Admin::BaseController
Products::SubmissionsController < ApplicationController

# Instance variables
@product, @user         # Singular for one resource
@products, @users       # Plural for collections

# Private methods
def set_product         # Resource loading
def product_params      # Strong parameters
def ensure_pending      # State validation
def require_admin       # Authorization check

Complete Examples

Simple CRUD Controller

class ProductsController < ApplicationController
  before_action :set_product, only: %i[show edit update destroy]

  def index
    @products = policy_scope(Product)
  end

  def show; end

  def new
    @product = authorize Product.new
  end

  def create
    @product = authorize Product.new(product_params)
    if @product.save
      redirect_to @product, notice: 'Successfully Created Product'
    else
      render :new, status: :unprocessable_content
    end
  end

  def edit; end

  def update
    if @product.update(product_params)
      redirect_to @product, notice: 'Successfully Updated Product'
    else
      render :edit, status: :unprocessable_content
    end
  end

  def destroy
    @product.destroy
    redirect_to products_url, notice: 'Successfully Deleted Product'
  end

  private

  def set_product
    @product = authorize Product.find(params[:id])
  end

  def product_params
    params.expect(product: %i[name description price])
  end
end

Nested Resource Controller

class OrderItemsController < ApplicationController
  before_action :set_order
  before_action :set_order_item, only: %i[show edit update destroy]

  def index
    @order_items = policy_scope(@order.order_items)
  end

  def new
    @order_item = authorize @order.order_items.build
  end

  def create
    @order_item = authorize @order.order_items.build(order_item_params)
    if @order_item.save
      redirect_to [@order, @order_item], notice: 'Successfully Created Order Item'
    else
      render :new, status: :unprocessable_content
    end
  end

  def update
    if @order_item.update(order_item_params)
      redirect_to [@order, @order_item], notice: 'Successfully Updated Order Item'
    else
      render :edit, status: :unprocessable_content
    end
  end

  def destroy
    @order_item.destroy
    redirect_to order_order_items_url(@order), notice: 'Successfully Deleted Order Item'
  end

  private

  def set_order
    @order = authorize Order.find(params[:order_id])
  end

  def set_order_item
    @order_item = authorize @order.order_items.find(params[:id])
  end

  def order_item_params
    params.expect(order_item: %i[product_id quantity price])
  end
end

Common Mistakes

❌ Anti-Pattern	✅ Correct Pattern
@product = Product.new(product_params)	@product = authorize Product.new(product_params)
render :new, status: :unprocessable_entity	render :new, status: :unprocessable_content
render :new (on validation failure)	render :new, status: :unprocessable_content
@product = Product.new(params[:product])	@product = Product.new(product_params)
params.require(:product).permit(:name)	params.expect(product: %i[name])
redirect_to @product, notice: 'Product created!'redirect_to @product, notice: 'Success!'	redirect_to @product, notice: 'Successfully Created Product'
before_action :set_product (no scope)	before_action :set_product, only: %i[show edit update destroy]
Custom action for state changes	Namespaced controller with RESTful actions

Advanced Patterns

Namespaced State Controllers

Use When: Actions represent state transitions (submit/unsubmit, activate/deactivate, approve/reject) on a resource.

Pattern: Namespace under parent resource, use create and destroy for state changes.

# Controller: app/controllers/time_entries/submissions_controller.rb
class TimeEntries::SubmissionsController < ApplicationController
  before_action :set_time_entry
  before_action :ensure_valid_for_submission, only: :create
  before_action :ensure_submitted, only: :destroy

  def create
    @time_entry.update!(status: :submitted, submitted_at: Time.current)
    redirect_to time_entries_path, notice: 'Time entry submitted for approval.'
  end

  def destroy
    @time_entry.update!(status: :pending, submitted_at: nil)
    redirect_to time_entries_path, notice: 'Time entry unsubmitted.'
  end

  private

  def set_time_entry
    @time_entry = current_user.time_entries.find(params[:time_entry_id])
  end

  def ensure_valid_for_submission
    return if @time_entry.pending? && @time_entry.stopped?
    redirect_to time_entries_path, alert: 'Only stopped pending entries can be submitted.'
  end

  def ensure_submitted
    return if @time_entry.submitted?
    redirect_to time_entries_path, alert: 'Only submitted entries can be unsubmitted.'
  end
end

# Routes
resources :time_entries do
  resource :submission, only: [:create, :destroy], module: :time_entries
end

# Views
button_to time_entry_submission_path(@time_entry), method: :post    # Submit
button_to time_entry_submission_path(@time_entry), method: :delete  # Unsubmit

Benefits:

• RESTful (uses standard create/destroy actions)
• Clear file organization (controllers/time_entries/submissions_controller.rb)
• Validation extracted to before_actions
• Single controller handles both transitions
• Easy to test

Bulk Operation Controllers

Use When: Operating on multiple records at once (bulk submit, bulk delete, bulk archive).

Pattern: Namespaced controller with only create action, validations in before_actions.

# Controller: app/controllers/time_entries/bulk_submissions_controller.rb
class TimeEntries::BulkSubmissionsController < ApplicationController
  before_action :set_entries
  before_action :ensure_entries_present
  before_action :ensure_entries_valid

  def create
    @entries.update_all(status: TimeEntry.statuses[:submitted], submitted_at: Time.current)
    redirect_to time_entries_path, notice: "#{@entries.count} #{'entry'.pluralize(@entries.count)} submitted."
  end

  private

  def set_entries
    ids = params[:time_entry_ids] || []
    @entries = current_user.time_entries.where(id: ids)
  end

  def ensure_entries_present
    return if @entries.any?
    redirect_to time_entries_path, alert: 'No entries selected.'
  end

  def ensure_entries_valid
    invalid = @entries.reject { |e| e.pending? && e.stopped? }
    return if invalid.empty?
    redirect_to time_entries_path, alert: 'Only stopped pending entries can be submitted.'
  end
end

# Routes
resource :bulk_submissions, only: :create, module: :time_entries

# Views
form_with url: bulk_submissions_path, method: :post do |f|
  # checkboxes for time_entry_ids[]
end

Scoped Collections in Show

Use When: Showing a resource with multiple related collections.

def show
  @active_projects = policy_scope(@company.projects.active)
  @archived_projects = policy_scope(@company.projects.archived)
  @team_members = policy_scope(@company.users)
end

Complex Nested Attributes

Use When: Forms accept nested records (has_many associations).

def product_params
  params.expect(
    product: [
      :name,
      :description,
      :price,
      images_attributes: %i[id url alt_text _destroy],
      variants_attributes: %i[id sku price stock_count _destroy],
      tags: [],
      category_ids: []
    ]
  )
end

Key Points:

• Include :id for updating existing nested records
• Include _destroy for deletion via nested attributes
• Use { array_attr: [] } for simple arrays
• Use { nested_attrs: %i[attr1 attr2] } for nested attribute hashes

Agent Instructions

Generating New Controllers

1. Identify controller type:

   • Standard CRUD → Use Simple CRUD pattern
   • State transitions → Use Namespaced State pattern
   • Bulk operations → Use Bulk Operation pattern
   • Nested resource → Use Nested Resource pattern

2. Apply patterns:

   • Start with appropriate template
   • Add authorization (authorize, policy_scope)
   • Define strong parameters
   • Add before_actions with explicit scoping
   • Use correct status codes and flash messages

3. Follow conventions:

   • Name: ResourcesController or Resources::StatesController
   • Inherit from: ApplicationController
   • Instance variables: @resource (singular), @resources (plural)
   • Private methods: set_resource, resource_params

Reviewing Existing Controllers

Check for:

• Authorization on all resource operations
• before_action with only:/except:
• Strong parameters (no direct params[] access)
• Status :unprocessable_content on validation failures
• Consistent flash messages: Successfully [Action] [Resource]
• Proper naming conventions
• State validations in before_actions (not in main actions)

Priority order: Security (authorization, params) → RESTful patterns → Status codes → Messaging