# Need explanation -\> Passing 'id' in a form / link\_to

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-explanation-passing-id-in-a-form-link-to/106296>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [June 8, 2007, 6:10am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-explanation-passing-id-in-a-form-link-to/106296 "2007-06-08T06:10:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jeannibee](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@jeannibee](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jeannibee)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 6:10am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-explanation-passing-id-in-a-form-link-to/106296/1 "2007-06-08T06:10:03Z")

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Just need some more inside information…

Sample Code from the AWDWR book.

\<%= link\_to ( image\_tag( product.image\_url ),  
{ :action =\> :add\_to\_cart, :id =\> product },  
:method =\> :post,  
:confirm =\> “Are you sure?” ) %\>

Why is my :id =\> symbol using ‘product’ and not ‘product.id’

Is the :id symbol ‘dual purpose’ and used as a key for an id param AND  
it also infers that the FIELD to ‘get’ from the product object is named  
‘id’?

Thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jeannibee](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@jeannibee](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jeannibee)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-explanation-passing-id-in-a-form-link-to/106296/2 "2007-06-08T16:17:43Z")

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Sorry, posted here by mistake… reposting to rails forum.

Thanks.