Email previews in Ruby on Rails

Introduction

Email previews let you see how your emails will look before sending them. This helps catch mistakes and improve design.

You want to check the layout and content of a welcome email before sending it to users.

You need to verify that dynamic data like user names appear correctly in emails.

You want to test different email templates without sending real emails.

You want to quickly review changes after updating email styles or text.

You want to share a draft of an email with your team for feedback.

Syntax

Ruby on Rails

class UserMailerPreview < ActionMailer::Preview
  def welcome_email
    user = User.first
    UserMailer.with(user: user).welcome_email
  end
end

Email preview classes go in the test/mailers/previews folder by default.

Each method in the preview class returns a mail object to display in the browser.

Examples

This preview shows the alert email for the last user in the database.

Ruby on Rails

class NotificationMailerPreview < ActionMailer::Preview
  def alert_email
    user = User.last
    NotificationMailer.with(user: user).alert_email
  end
end

This preview displays the receipt email for the first order.

Ruby on Rails

class OrderMailerPreview < ActionMailer::Preview
  def receipt_email
    order = Order.first
    OrderMailer.with(order: order).receipt_email
  end
end

Sample Program

This example defines a simple welcome email and a preview that shows it for a sample user named Alice.

Ruby on Rails

class UserMailer < ApplicationMailer
  def welcome_email
    @user = params[:user]
    mail(to: @user.email, subject: "Welcome to Our Site")
  end
end

class UserMailerPreview < ActionMailer::Preview
  def welcome_email
    user = User.new(name: "Alice", email: "[e-mail]")
    UserMailer.with(user: user).welcome_email
  end
end

Important Notes

You can access previews in your browser at http://localhost:3000/rails/mailers when running Rails locally.

Previews do not send real emails; they only render the email content for review.

Use sample or dummy data in previews to avoid exposing real user information.

Summary

Email previews help you see emails before sending.

Create preview classes with methods that return mail objects.

View previews in the browser to check email content and design.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of email previews in Rails?

easy

A. To view the email content in the browser before sending

B. To send emails automatically to users

C. To store emails in the database

D. To encrypt email content for security

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of email previews

   Email previews allow developers to see how emails will look before sending them out.

2. Step 2: Compare options with this purpose

   Only To view the email content in the browser before sending describes viewing email content in the browser, which matches the purpose of previews.

3. Final Answer:

   To view the email content in the browser before sending -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Email previews = View email before sending [OK]

Hint: Email previews show email content before sending [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing previews with sending emails
• Thinking previews store emails permanently
• Assuming previews encrypt emails

2. Which of the following is the correct way to define a preview method in a Rails mailer preview class?

easy

A. def welcome_email; UserMailer.welcome_email(User.first); end

B. def welcome_email() UserMailer.welcome_email(User.first) end

C. def welcome_email { UserMailer.welcome_email(User.first) }

D. def welcome_email -> UserMailer.welcome_email(User.first)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Ruby method syntax in classes

   Methods are defined with def method_name; ...; end syntax.

2. Step 2: Check each option's syntax

   def welcome_email; UserMailer.welcome_email(User.first); end uses correct Ruby method syntax with semicolons and end. Options A, C, and D have syntax errors or invalid Ruby syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   def welcome_email; UserMailer.welcome_email(User.first); end -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct Ruby method syntax = def welcome_email; UserMailer.welcome_email(User.first); end [OK]

Hint: Use def ...; ...; end for methods in Ruby classes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting 'end' keyword
• Using braces {} instead of def/end
• Using arrow syntax which is invalid here

3. Given this preview method in UserMailerPreview:

def notification_email
  UserMailer.notification_email(User.find(1))
end

What will happen when you visit /rails/mailers/user_mailer/notification_email in the browser?

medium

A. An error occurs because UserMailerPreview is missing

B. The email content for user with ID 1 is displayed in the browser

C. The email is sent to user with ID 1 automatically

D. The browser shows a 404 Not Found error

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what preview methods do

   Preview methods return mail objects that Rails renders as HTML in the browser for preview.

2. Step 2: Analyze the URL and method

   The URL matches the preview method name and class, so Rails will render the email content for user ID 1.

3. Final Answer:

   The email content for user with ID 1 is displayed in the browser -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Preview URL shows email content = The email content for user with ID 1 is displayed in the browser [OK]

Hint: Preview URL shows email content, not send email [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking preview sends email
• Assuming missing preview class error
• Expecting 404 if preview is defined

4. You wrote this preview method:

def alert_email
  UserMailer.alert_email(user)
end

But visiting the preview URL gives an error: undefined local variable or method `user'. What is the fix?

medium

A. Add @user as an instance variable outside the method

B. Change method name to user_alert_email

C. Remove the method and call UserMailer directly

D. Define the variable user inside the method before calling UserMailer

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify cause of error

   The error says user is undefined, meaning it was never assigned a value.

2. Step 2: Fix by defining user variable

   Inside the method, assign user = User.first or similar before calling UserMailer.alert_email(user).

3. Final Answer:

   Define the variable user inside the method before calling UserMailer -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Undefined variable error = define variable first [OK]

Hint: Always define variables before use in preview methods [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming method name causes error
• Trying to call mailer without arguments
• Using instance variable outside method scope

5. You want to preview an email that requires a list of users. Which is the best way to write the preview method in UserMailerPreview?

hard

A. def newsletter_email
UserMailer.newsletter_email(User.all)
end

B. def newsletter_email(users)
UserMailer.newsletter_email(users)
end

C. def newsletter_email
users = User.limit(3)
UserMailer.newsletter_email(users)
end

D. def newsletter_email
UserMailer.newsletter_email
end

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand preview method context

   Preview methods do not accept parameters; they must define data inside the method.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options for passing user list

   def newsletter_email users = User.limit(3) UserMailer.newsletter_email(users) end defines a limited user list inside the method and passes it correctly. def newsletter_email(users) UserMailer.newsletter_email(users) end incorrectly defines a parameter. def newsletter_email UserMailer.newsletter_email(User.all) end passes all users which may be too large. def newsletter_email UserMailer.newsletter_email end passes no argument, likely causing error.

3. Final Answer:

   def newsletter_email users = User.limit(3) UserMailer.newsletter_email(users) end -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Define data inside preview method, no parameters [OK]

Hint: Preview methods must define data inside, no parameters [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding parameters to preview methods
• Passing no arguments when required
• Using too large datasets in previews