Railsfactory logo

Hotwire

Hotwire is a modern Rails framework for building fast, interactive user interfaces without heavy JavaScript, using server-rendered HTML and real-time updates.

Table of Contents

1. What is Hotwire in Ruby on Rails?
2. Why is Hotwire Useful?
3. How Hotwire Works?
4. Example
5. Where to Use Hotwire?
6. In Summary

What is Hotwire in Ruby on Rails?

Hotwire (HTML Over The Wire) is a set of technologies in Rails that enables developers to create dynamic, interactive applications while relying mostly on server-side rendering instead of client-side JavaScript frameworks.

Hotwire allows Rails apps to deliver rich user experiences by sending HTML updates over the network, rather than JSON, keeping the frontend simple and maintainable.

Why is Hotwire Useful?

Traditional frontend frameworks often require complex JavaScript code and state management. Hotwire simplifies this by:

  • Reducing the amount of custom JavaScript needed

  • Keeping most logic on the server

  • Delivering fast page updates without full reloads

  • Improving maintainability and performance

  • Leveraging Rails’ strengths in server-side rendering

How Hotwire Works?

Hotwire is made up of three main components that work together to update the UI efficiently.

Key components:

  • Turbo Drive – Speeds up navigation by replacing full page reloads with partial updates.

  • Turbo Frames – Updates specific sections of a page independently.

  • Turbo Streams – Pushes real-time HTML updates to the browser.

  • Stimulus – A lightweight JavaScript framework for adding small, focused interactions.

Example

Turbo Frame (index.html.erb):

Glossary_Hotwire 1.png

Wraps part of the page so it can be updated independently.

Turbo Stream (create.turbo_stream.erb):

Glossary_Hotwire 2.png

Appends a new post to the list without reloading the page.

Stimulus Controller:

Glossary_Hotwire 3.png

Adds lightweight JavaScript behavior where needed.

These examples show how Hotwire enables fast, interactive updates using server-rendered HTML with minimal JavaScript.

Where to Use Hotwire?

  • Building interactive forms and dashboards

  • Updating lists, comments, or feeds in real time

  • Replacing heavy JavaScript frameworks in Rails apps

  • Enhancing user experience without full page reloads

  • Adding real-time features with minimal frontend complexity

In Summary

Hotwire helps Rails developers build modern, interactive applications using server-rendered HTML instead of heavy client-side JavaScript. By combining Turbo and Stimulus, it delivers fast updates, simpler code, and a more maintainable frontend architecture.