Rails initializers are files that run when the Rails application starts. They allow developers to configure third-party libraries. In this post, we will cover the points below.

• What are the rails initializers?
• Why are they important in rails applications?
• Examples of common configurations.

What are the rails initializers?

Initializers are .rb files located inside the config/initializers directory. They are executed when Rails applications load up. Initializers are executed alphabetically, so consider file names if order matters.

Why are they important in rails applications?

Initializer provides a way to configure and customize applications during the bootup process. It allows developers to set the global configuration and initialize resources before the application starts accepting requests.

Examples of common configurations

# config/initializers/time_zone.rb
Rails.application.config.time_zone = 'Asia/Kolkata'

It will set the default timezone for the entire application's Indian Standard Time(IST).

Conclusion

Rails initializers are key to managing your rail application's configuration and setup. They help centralize configuration, integrate third-party services, optimize performances, and create more modular code.