Ruby for Front-End Web Development: Basics


Introduction

Ruby is often associated with web development, particularly on the back-end with the Ruby on Rails framework. However, you can also use Ruby for front-end web development to enhance the user experience and create dynamic web applications. In this guide, we'll explore the basics of using Ruby on the front-end and demonstrate its capabilities.


Prerequisites

Before diving into Ruby for front-end development, ensure you have the following prerequisites:


  • Ruby installed on your system
  • A code editor (e.g., Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text)
  • Basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

Using Ruby in HTML

Ruby can be embedded directly into HTML using special tags. Here's an example of embedding Ruby in an HTML document:


<html>
<head>
    <title>Ruby in HTML</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Hello, <%= "Ruby" %> in HTML</h1>
</body>
</html>

In this example, we use `<%= %>` to embed Ruby code directly into an HTML document. The result of the Ruby expression will be included in the final HTML rendering.


Manipulating HTML with Ruby

You can use Ruby to manipulate the HTML structure of a web page dynamically. Here's a simple example of adding a list of items to an HTML page:


<html>
<head>
    <title>Dynamic HTML with Ruby</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Shopping List</h1>
    <ul>
        <%= ["Apples", "Bananas", "Cherries"].each do |item| %>
            <li><%= item %></li>
        <end %>
    </ul>
</body>
</html>

In this example, we use a Ruby array and a loop to dynamically generate a list of items within an HTML `

    ` element.


    Integrating Ruby with JavaScript

    Ruby can work alongside JavaScript to enhance front-end functionality. You can use Ruby to generate JavaScript code dynamically. Here's an example:


    <html>
    <head>
        <title>Integrating Ruby with JavaScript</title>
    </head>
    <body>
        <button onclick="<%= "alert('Hello from Ruby-generated JavaScript!');" %>">Click Me</button>
    </body>
    </html>

    In this example, we use Ruby to generate an `onclick` event that triggers a JavaScript `alert` when the button is clicked.


    Conclusion

    Ruby can play a role in front-end web development by embedding Ruby code in HTML, manipulating HTML dynamically, and integrating with JavaScript. While it's not as common as JavaScript for front-end tasks, it provides an additional layer of flexibility and can be useful for certain scenarios.


    Practice using Ruby for front-end development to explore its capabilities further. You can also consider using Ruby alongside JavaScript frameworks like Rails, which offer a comprehensive solution for full-stack web development.


    Happy coding!