JavaScript in Rails

Guide Rails applications through JavaScript setup, bundling choices, and Turbo/UJS replacements using Rails 7+ conventions.

Choose a JavaScript strategy

Import maps (default for Rails 7+)

• No Node.js or Yarn required.
• No build step; run bin/rails server.
• Use for most Hotwire-first apps and smaller JS needs.

JavaScript bundlers

• Use Bun, esbuild, Rollup, or Webpack.
• Bundlers integrate via jsbundling-rails.
• Run bin/dev during development.
• Node.js + Yarn required for esbuild/Rollup/Webpack.
• Bun is both runtime and bundler.