This document discusses form helpers in Rails 3. It shows how to use form_for to generate forms for a Person model, including labels, text fields, and a submit button. form_for allows the same syntax for new and edit forms by setting the URL based on if the object is new or existing. Common form elements like text fields, text areas, checkboxes and selects can be generated. When not associated with a model, form_tag and related tag helpers can be used instead.

1. FORM HELPERS
RAILS 3

2. FORMS
<%= form_for(@person) do |f| %>
<%= f.label :first_name %> <br />
<%= f.text_field :first_name %>
<%= f.label :last_name %><br />
<%= f.text_field :last_name %>
<%= f.submit %>
<% end %>

3. form_for(@person)
• allows same syntax for new and edit form
• Person.new => /people
• Person.find(4) => /people/4
• in rails console, can experiment using "app"
• app.url_for(Person.new)
• app.url_for(Person.first)

4. FORM ELEMENTS
• label
• text_field
• password_field
• text_area
• check_box
• radio_button
• file_field
• select
•

5. TAG HELPERS
• When forms are not associated with a model
• use form_tag and related helpers
• label_tag
• text_field_tag
• submit_tag
• etc.

6. FUTHER READING
http://guides.rubyonrails.org/form_helpers.html