How to get blank checkboxes to pass as false to params

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I have a form that is an update user form where several of the elements are checkboxes. I want true to pass to the params if checked (this is working) and false to pass to the params if unchecked (not working). The unchecked items are not even being sent to the params. How can i make an unchecked item pass through as false?

Form

<%= form_tag user_url(@user), class: "form-signin", method: 'patch' do %>
 <h4>Please confirm your email.  We'll only email you if you have notifications.</h4>
  <%= email_field_tag :email, current_user.email %>
 <h4>Want to be notified when someone needs a player?  Choose which sports below.</h4>
  <%= check_box_tag :basketball, checked = true %> Basketball</br></br>
  <%= check_box_tag :indoor_volleyball, checked = true %> Indoor Volleyball</br></br>
  <%= check_box_tag :beach_volleyball, checked = true %> Beach Volleyball</br></br>
  <%= check_box_tag :soccer, checked = true %> Soccer</br></br>
  <%= check_box_tag :flag_football, checked = true %> Flag Football</br></br>
  <%= check_box_tag :hockey, checked = true %> Hockey</br></br>
  <%= check_box_tag :kickball, checked = true %> Kickball</br></br>
  <%= check_box_tag :softball, checked = true %> Softball
  <%= hidden_field_tag :user_id, :value => current_user.id %>
  <%= hidden_field_tag :user, :value => current_user %>
 <div>
  </br>
  <%= submit_tag "Submit", class:"btn btn-large btn-success" %>
 </div>

Controller

  def update
   respond_to do |format|
   if @user.update(update_params)
     format.html { redirect_to @user, notice: 'Updates were successful.' }
     format.json { head :no_content }
    else
     format.html { render action: 'edit' }
     format.json { render json: @user.errors, status: :unprocessable_entity }
    end
   end
  end

  def update_params
    params.permit(:email, :soccer, :softball, :beach_volleyball, :indoor_volleyball, :flag_football, :basketball, :hockey, :kickball)
  end
5 Answers

You need to place a hidden field tag before each checkbox with an empty value, for example:

<%= hidden_field_tag :basketball, '' %>
<%= check_box_tag :basketball, checked = true %> Basketball</br></br>

Then the form is aware it needs to populate that field with an empty value if nothing is selected.

Look at it

The main idea to place hidden field before checkbox. When a form is submitted fields will be parsed: if checkbox is checked - its value will be passed, else the value of hidden field

For example smth like this (NOT testes)

<%= hidden_field_tag :basketball, false %>
<%= check_box_tag :basketball, checked = true %> Basketball</br></br>

It appears that you are able to pass the value. See the following code:

check_box_tag 'accept'
<input id="accept" name="accept" type="checkbox" value="1" />

check_box_tag 'rock', 'rock music'
<input id="rock" name="rock" type="checkbox" value="rock music" />

check_box_tag 'receive_email', 'yes', true
<input checked="checked" id="receive_email" name="receive_email" type="checkbox" value="yes" />

check_box_tag 'tos', 'yes', false, :class => 'accept_tos'
<input class="accept_tos" id="tos" name="tos" type="checkbox" value="yes" />

check_box_tag 'eula', 'accepted', false, :disabled => true
<input disabled="disabled" id="eula" name="eula" type="checkbox" value="accepted" />

http://apidock.com/rails/ActionView/Helpers/FormTagHelper/check_box_tag

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