Nested Resources vs. Normal Resources

Hi,

I'm a bit unsure as to when one uses a nested resource and when one uses a normal resource. If you have a belongs_to, has_one/many relationship between models is that automatically an indication of a nested resource or can these resources still be represented in the normal resource way?

I have a resource (talker) that belongs_to a number of other models (network, data_date, talker_type etc) in a many to one relationship and I'd like to be able to have something like:

/networks/1/talkers/10 /data_dates/1/talkers/10 /talker_types/1/talkers/10

but also

/talkers/10

Is it possible to do this? or do I need to rename each of the nested parts of the url to something like network_talkers etc. so that it would be:

/networks/1/network_talkers/10

?

Thanks, Toby

Don't use nested resource unless you have a valid reason.

http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-core/browse_thread/thread/f4ca7b1d420f6d7d/63a18f62d6cc7364?q=Nested+Resource&lnk=ol& is a nice read.