# Flash for more than notices **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [December 7, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/flash-for-more-than-notices/49669 "2005-12-07T13:59:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![atomgiant](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@atomgiant](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/atomgiant)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/flash-for-more-than-notices/49669/1 "2005-12-07T13:59:24Z")
Hi, I am considering using the flash to store intermediate data between requests that is more than just a status type message. For instance, if a user searches for some items, I will render the items to them keyed with the item.id and store the items in a flash[:items] for subsequent interactions with them (I don’t plan on keeping more than a dozen of these per user at a time). This will allow me to just have the item.id sent between requests to manipulate the items. In addition, in my particular case, there is no easy way to re-build an item from just its id (I am pulling them from an external source). Does this sound like a reasonable approach? Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks, Tom ---
**Author:** ![atomgiant](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@atomgiant](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/atomgiant)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/flash-for-more-than-notices/49669/2 "2005-12-07T14:32:00Z")
Why not just use the session? ---
**Author:** ![atomgiant](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@atomgiant](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/atomgiant)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/flash-for-more-than-notices/49669/3 "2005-12-07T14:48:18Z")
On 12/7/05, Tom D. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > the items. In addition, in my particular case, there is no easy way > to re-build an item from just its id (I am pulling them from an > external source). > > Does this sound like a reasonable approach? > > Any feedback is appreciated. > > Thanks, > Tom That’s what the session is for. The only difference with the flash IIRC is that it’s wiped at the end of the next request. – rick [http://techno-weenie.net](http://techno-weenie.net) ---
**Author:** ![atomgiant](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@atomgiant](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/atomgiant)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/flash-for-more-than-notices/49669/4 "2005-12-07T15:29:14Z")
The main reason I was leaning towards the flash is that this data is really only useful for the next request that follows presenting it. In AJAX, this would not be true, but I could just use flash.keep. I view the session as being more for long term session data. By using the flash, I would not have to deal with stale data or clearing issues. However, perhaps this is an abuse of the flash’s purpose. The session approach would definitely scale better… and come to think of it, it is the only one that would work in a multi-server environment. OK, I’ve convinced myself to use the session now 🙂 The stale data and clearing are really not big issues since this dataset will be so small and should be refreshed for each user request. Thanks, Tom ---
**Author:** ![atomgiant](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@atomgiant](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/atomgiant)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/flash-for-more-than-notices/49669/5 "2005-12-07T23:53:23Z")
Tom D. wrote: > The main reason I was leaning towards the flash is that this data is > really only useful for the next request that follows presenting it. > In AJAX, this would not be true, but I could just use flash.keep. I > view the session as being more for long term session data. > > By using the flash, I would not have to deal with stale data or clearing issues. > > However, perhaps this is an abuse of the flash’s purpose. The session > approach would definitely scale better… and come to think of it, it > is the only one that would work in a multi-server environment. The flash is actually held in the session, under the key ‘flash’. (If it didn’t use the same technology as the session, _it_ wouldn’t work in a multi-server environment.) So if it’s more convenient, use it! regards Justin ---
**Author:** ![atomgiant](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@atomgiant](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/atomgiant)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/flash-for-more-than-notices/49669/6 "2005-12-08T02:52:20Z")
Thanks Justin. After typing that I thought that may be the case… I just didn’t look underneath the covers 🙂