Rails wrap_parameters vs include_root_in_json, what is the difference?

Question

In a new Rails 3.2 app you can find in config/initializers/wrap_parameters.rb the following lines:

ActiveSupport.on_load(:action_controller) do
  wrap_parame         


        

Answer 1

include_root_in_json is to wrap json instantiated in Rails

wrap_parameters is to wrap json received from a request.

If you have wrap_parameters enabled, and if you send the following json through a POST command to Rails:

{name: 'John Smith'}

Rails will automatically wrap the JSON it received into:

{"person": {name: 'John Smith'}}

include_root_in_json, on the other hand, is whether the json Rails generates from an object is wrapped or not through the to_json command.

---

e.g. Person.to_json. If include_root_in_json is enabled, you'll get:

{"person": {name: 'James Brown'}}

Otherwise, you'll just get

{name: 'John Smith'}