var modalSelector = "#<%= dom_id @note, dom_id(@releasable) %>" var modal = "<%= j render("new_note_modal", releasable: @releasable, note: @note) %>" // If the modal already exists, replace it. Otherwise, create it if ($(modalSelector).length > 0) { $(modalSelector).replaceWith(modal) } else { $('body').append(modal) } $(modalSelector).modal("toggle")