# AJAX + degradable way to delete an record

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ajax-degradable-way-to-delete-an-record/125436>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [January 9, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ajax-degradable-way-to-delete-an-record/125436 "2008-01-09T04:06:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ajax-degradable-way-to-delete-an-record/125436/1 "2008-01-09T04:06:52Z")

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Hi all!

So, following the guides on the depot app, you learn that a good way  
to create ‘Delete’ links for records is using link\_to and the :method  
=\> post so that the request is sent as POST instead of GET, thus not  
having the ‘destructive get request’.

What the depot app would tell you to use is something like:

\<%= link\_to ‘Delete’, { :action =\> ‘delete’, :id =\>  
service }, :confirm =\> ‘Are you sure?’, :method =\> ‘post’ %\>

This works great, etc. But how will I make something like that that  
generates a XHR request and, if JS disabled, a regular POST request  
(or GET, as a last resort)?

I think a form\_to\_remote might not work since I’m using tables to show  
the records and I’ve seen it before where it doesn’t work unless the  
form is around the table, and not inside it.

How have you guys managed to do something like it?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ajax-degradable-way-to-delete-an-record/125436/2 "2008-01-09T19:59:22Z")

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It’s an interesting question, actually, as RAILS 2 uses the :method  
=\> option extensively to make its RESTful magic work, and we are  
faking not only POST but also PUT and DELETE using javascript.

I just disabled javascript and tried one of my admin sections’ destroy  
links, and it broke, trying to render a page layout that doesn’t  
exist. However, it did mean that trying to follow a delete link  
without javascript enabled, like a bot would, does not destroy your  
records.

I believe all that is required to ‘pretend’ POST/PUT/DELETE from a  
link is to add \_method=post (etc) to the query string. Rails will use  
this to pretend that it received a POST request when actually it  
didn’t.

so you ‘could’ fake a POST link by doing \<%= link\_to ‘Delete’,  
{ :action =\> ‘delete’, :id =\>

> service, ‘\_method’ =\> ‘post’ }, :confirm =\> ‘Are you sure?’, :method =\> ‘post’ %\>

so that the non-js version still sent the dummy method. But I haven’t  
tried this and i’m not sure what the rails community wil have to say.  
Also this makes your GET link destructive again…

Try this for some more enlightened information (i haven’t viewed it  
but their stuff is usually good)

> **[\#77 Destroy Without JavaScript - RailsCasts](http://railscasts.com/episodes/77-destroy-without-javascript)**
>
> Short Ruby on Rails screencasts containing tips, tricks and tutorials. Great for both novice and experienced web developers.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ajax-degradable-way-to-delete-an-record/125436/3 "2008-01-09T20:04:03Z")

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Or you can use

\<%=button\_to

in place of \<%=link\_to

This builds an actual form tag. Then just style it with CSS to make it  
look  
like a link.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:05am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ajax-degradable-way-to-delete-an-record/125436/4 "2008-01-10T08:05:36Z")

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[#77 Destroy Without JavaScript - RailsCasts](http://railscasts.com/episodes/77)?