Running the same model search in multiple controllers

rubyonrails-talk
1

So I have a layout (application.rhtml) that contains a list of categories that are stored within the database. To get retrieve the list I overwrite the initialize method within the application controller (application.rb) as such:

def initialize      @categories = Category.find(:all, :order => :position) end

Is this the best way I should be doing this? I don't want to have this code in my layout breaking MVC idioms, but is there a more preferred way in best practice then by doing it this way?

Thanks,

Blaine

2

Personally I'd be writing a before filter to call a method in my application.rb

Cam

3

If I understand you correctly, you should be using a before filter: http://api.rubyonrails.com/classes/ActionController/Filters/ClassMethods.html

You may want to cache the list of categories until they change: http://ap.rubyonrails.com/classes/ActionController/Caching/Fragments.html

4

Excellent - I thought about doing it with a before_filter, but again wasn't sure. I've adjusted the code to use a before_filter instead and it's all working great, thanks a lot.

Blaine