How can you implement a search function using the REST approach? Is there an example of this somewhere on the web? Thanks!
It would seem rather easy as far as you have two main options:
1) Think of the "search" itself as a resource 2) Think of the "search" as a condition of "index" action
For one, create the SearchController which will manage "search" resources if you will. New will be the form to enter the search query, and "create" will perform the search and return the results, etc.
For two, simply have the "index" action accept optional query conditions. So, by default, index would display all the items and then by specifying constraints, this could also act as a search of sorts.
Hope that helps.
Thanks, Nathan! I think I'm finally getting the hang of this REST approach and am starting to like it. Urls are so much cleaner and it's starting to make sense! Cheri
Good suggestion, Nathan. I think the main question (for Cheri) to answer is whether Search is something that is going to be needed for many different models or simply this one. If it's something that will be done for many things and you need to render a consistent list then go with 1; if it's primarily one (or two) models then go with 2.
The search will be needed for just one model, so I will go with option 2. I also plan to include the search terms in the url for the search results view- which I assume under the REST model would be the search "show" view - so that the user can use the Back button to get back to the search results page. - Cheri
AndyV wrote: