.js.erb VS .js

Question

What is the advantage to putting you javascript for your rails app into a .js.erb file instead of just throwing it in your application.js file? I have a create button for bu

Answer 1

If I may contribute to the answer with my few cents...

The answer to your question is really simple :

• A file ending with *.js.erb allows your file to be interpreted by ruby. (So you will be able to use rails helpers)

• A file ending with *.js is a pure javascript.

You will never get a *.js file to work if you place any ruby code inside like:

$(function () {
  new Highcharts.Chart({
    chart: { renderTo: 'orders_chart' },
    title: { text: <%= gon.my_title_of_the_day.to_json %> },
  });
})

The part <%= gon.my_title_of_the_day.to_json %> will just generate an error because javascript knows nothing about ruby.

In order your *.js file works, you will have to statically change it every time the day changes:

$(function () {
  new Highcharts.Chart({
    chart: { renderTo: 'orders_chart' },
    title: { text: 'Monday' },
  });
})

N.B. : If you use a *.js.erb, you will need in addition the "Gon" gem to pass data from your controller to JS though.

Now for your underlying question "why is my javascript code not working '" I can't answer because I'm no javascript expert and this is another story... ;-)