What is ActionCable in Rails?

Updated May 24, 2026

Short answer

ActionCable enables real-time WebSocket communication.

Deep explanation

It integrates WebSockets into Rails for live updates.

Real-world example

Live chat applications.

Common mistakes

  • Using ActionCable for heavy streaming workloads.

Follow-up questions

  • What are WebSockets?
  • Alternatives to ActionCable?

More Ruby on Rails interview questions

View all →