# Value\_before\_type\_cast

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/value-before-type-cast/131314>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [March 7, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/value-before-type-cast/131314 "2008-03-07T22:55:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BensPop](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/ecb155/32.png) [@BensPop](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/BensPop)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/value-before-type-cast/131314/1 "2008-03-07T22:55:14Z")

</div>

I have created a plugin that returns a Flash text editor and a hidden  
input field. I’m using an instance of the InstanceTag class to create  
a custom form helper for the hidden field. I need to be able to  
manipulate the value that is put into the hidden filed but I don’t  
understand how the value\_before\_type\_cast method in this class returns  
a value. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?