# Newbie question trying to understand collection\_check\_boxes method

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newbie-question-trying-to-understand-collection-check-boxes-method/257979>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [March 9, 2020, 12:55pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newbie-question-trying-to-understand-collection-check-boxes-method/257979 "2020-03-09T12:55:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![arthas86](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/cc9497/32.png) [@arthas86](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/arthas86)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 12:55pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newbie-question-trying-to-understand-collection-check-boxes-method/257979/1 "2020-03-09T12:55:59Z")

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Hi, I am new to Rails, and I am trying to create checkboxes in a view. I came across this method:  
[https://apidock.com/rails/v4.0.2/ActionView/Helpers/FormOptionsHelper/collection\_check\_boxes](https://apidock.com/rails/v4.0.2/ActionView/Helpers/FormOptionsHelper/collection_check_boxes)

What I am trying to understand here is, where does this “:author\_ids” method come from? Is this similar to author.ids method? I have been reading through the guide but struggling to find out where is the method coming from? Also I do not quite understand the purpose of parsing this “:name\_with\_initial” into the method.

Appreciate for any advice/explanation on this.