I know I could define instance variables e.g:
def user_register(username, email)
@username = username
@email = email
mail(:to => email, :subject => "Welcome!", :template_name => "reg_#{I18n.locale}")
end
But, is there a way to use local variables instead, just like passing :locals to partials?
As ronalchn pointed out, it's the render that has :locals, not the mail method. So, you need a direct access to the render method in order to pass the locals.
You can give a block to the mail and that way gain access to the render method, something like this:
mail(to: "your_mail@example.com", subject: "Test passing locals to view from mailer") do |format|
format.html {
render locals: { recipient_name: "John D." }
}
end
And now you should be able to use "Hello <%= recipient_name %>"
All options available in the mail method can be found at http://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/ActionMailer/Base.html#method-i-mail.
We know that render has a :locals option. However we can see that there is no :locals option available for mail. Therefore, no, there is no better way than to use instance variables (unless you want to use something hideous like globals or persistent database objects - don't do this).
Instance variables are what you are meant to use.
In Rails 5, you simply have to define instance variables using @ in your method. You no longer have access to the locals property for this purpose.
class UserMailer < ApplicationMailer
def welcome_email(user_id:, to_email:, user_full_name:, token:)
# Mail template variables
@user = User.find_by(id: user_id)
@token = token
mail(:to => to_email,
:subject => MAILER_SUBJECTS_WELCOME,
:template_path => "user_mailer",
:template_name => "welcome_email")
end
end
Then you can just access them in your email template using <%= @user %> and <%= @token %>
You can actually use the locals option with mail, it's just a bit confusing and inconsistent as to how.
Once you use :locals you can then access these locals in the mail template using instance variables, e.g.
:locals => { :name => 'Jane' }
and then in the template
Dear <%= @name %>,
