Add config.default_method_for_update to support PATCH

PATCH is the correct HTML verb to map to the #update action. The
semantics for PATCH allows for partial updates, whereas PUT requires a
complete replacement.

Changes:
* adds config.default_method_for_update you can set to :patch
* optionally use PATCH instead of PUT in resource routes and forms
* adds the #patch verb to routes to detect PATCH requests
* adds #patch? to Request
* changes documentation and comments to indicate support for PATCH

This change maintains complete backwards compatibility by keeping :put
as the default for config.default_method_for_update.

12 files changed, 130 insertions, 82 deletions

diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/http_authentication.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/http_authentication.rb
index 3d46163b74..b8b43ea9ef 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/http_authentication.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/http_authentication.rb
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ module ActionController
       #
       # An implementation might choose not to accept a previously used nonce or a previously used digest, in order to
       # protect against a replay attack. Or, an implementation might choose to use one-time nonces or digests for
-      # POST or PUT requests and a time-stamp for GET requests. For more details on the issues involved see Section 4
+      # POST, PUT, or PATCH requests and a time-stamp for GET requests. For more details on the issues involved see Section 4
       # of this document.
       #
       # The nonce is opaque to the client. Composed of Time, and hash of Time with secret
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ module ActionController
       end
 
       # Might want a shorter timeout depending on whether the request
-      # is a PUT or POST, and if client is browser or web service.
+      # is a PATCH, PUT, or POST, and if client is browser or web service.
       # Can be much shorter if the Stale directive is implemented. This would
       # allow a user to use new nonce without prompting user again for their
       # username and password.
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/responder.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/responder.rb
index daa1ddd65f..ccda01ed44 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/responder.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/responder.rb
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ module ActionController #:nodoc:
   #     end
   #   end
   #
-  # The same happens for PUT and DELETE requests.
+  # The same happens for PATCH/PUT and DELETE requests.
   #
   # === Nested resources
   #
@@ -116,8 +116,9 @@ module ActionController #:nodoc:
   class Responder
     attr_reader :controller, :request, :format, :resource, :resources, :options
 
-    ACTIONS_FOR_VERBS = {
+    DEFAULT_ACTIONS_FOR_VERBS = {
       :post => :new,
+      :patch => :edit,
       :put => :edit
     }
 
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ module ActionController #:nodoc:
     end
 
     delegate :head, :render, :redirect_to,   :to => :controller
-    delegate :get?, :post?, :put?, :delete?, :to => :request
+    delegate :get?, :post?, :patch?, :put?, :delete?, :to => :request
 
     # Undefine :to_json and :to_yaml since it's defined on Object
     undef_method(:to_json) if method_defined?(:to_json)
@@ -259,11 +260,11 @@ module ActionController #:nodoc:
       resource.respond_to?(:errors) && !resource.errors.empty?
     end
 
-    # By default, render the <code>:edit</code> action for HTML requests with failure, unless
-    # the verb is POST.
+    # By default, render the <code>:edit</code> action for HTML requests with errors, unless
+    # the verb was POST.
     #
     def default_action
-      @action ||= ACTIONS_FOR_VERBS[request.request_method_symbol]
+      @action ||= DEFAULT_ACTIONS_FOR_VERBS[request.request_method_symbol]
     end
 
     def resource_errors
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_case.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_case.rb
index 1e226fc336..3509e74d5e 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_case.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_case.rb
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ module ActionController
   # == Basic example
   #
   # Functional tests are written as follows:
-  # 1. First, one uses the +get+, +post+, +put+, +delete+ or +head+ method to simulate
+  # 1. First, one uses the +get+, +post+, +patch+, +put+, +delete+ or +head+ method to simulate
   #    an HTTP request.
   # 2. Then, one asserts whether the current state is as expected. "State" can be anything:
   #    the controller's HTTP response, the database contents, etc.
@@ -392,6 +392,11 @@ module ActionController
         process(action, "POST", *args)
       end
 
+      # Executes a request simulating PATCH HTTP method and set/volley the response
+      def patch(action, *args)
+        process(action, "PATCH", *args)
+      end
+
       # Executes a request simulating PUT HTTP method and set/volley the response
       def put(action, *args)
         process(action, "PUT", *args)
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/http/request.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/http/request.rb
index 0a0ebe7fad..de014a9c00 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/http/request.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/http/request.rb
@@ -97,6 +97,12 @@ module ActionDispatch
       HTTP_METHOD_LOOKUP[request_method] == :post
     end
 
+    # Is this a PATCH request?
+    # Equivalent to <tt>request.request_method == :patch</tt>.
+    def patch?
+      HTTP_METHOD_LOOKUP[request_method] == :patch
+    end
+
     # Is this a PUT request?
     # Equivalent to <tt>request.request_method_symbol == :put</tt>.
     def put?
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/railtie.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/railtie.rb
index 35f901c575..4135f3c142 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/railtie.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/railtie.rb
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ module ActionDispatch
       ActionDispatch::Http::URL.tld_length = app.config.action_dispatch.tld_length
       ActionDispatch::Request.ignore_accept_header = app.config.action_dispatch.ignore_accept_header
       ActionDispatch::Response.default_charset = app.config.action_dispatch.default_charset || app.config.encoding
+      ActionDispatch::Routing::Mapper.default_method_for_update = app.config.default_method_for_update
 
       ActionDispatch::ExceptionWrapper.rescue_responses.merge!(config.action_dispatch.rescue_responses)
       ActionDispatch::ExceptionWrapper.rescue_templates.merge!(config.action_dispatch.rescue_templates)
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/routing.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/routing.rb
index 107fe80d1f..38a0270151 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/routing.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/routing.rb
@@ -182,10 +182,13 @@ module ActionDispatch
   #
   # == HTTP Methods
   #
-  # Using the <tt>:via</tt> option when specifying a route allows you to restrict it to a specific HTTP method.
-  # Possible values are <tt>:post</tt>, <tt>:get</tt>, <tt>:put</tt>, <tt>:delete</tt> and <tt>:any</tt>.
-  # If your route needs to respond to more than one method you can use an array, e.g. <tt>[ :get, :post ]</tt>.
-  # The default value is <tt>:any</tt> which means that the route will respond to any of the HTTP methods.
+  # Using the <tt>:via</tt> option when specifying a route allows you to
+  # restrict it to a specific HTTP method.  Possible values are <tt>:post</tt>,
+  # <tt>:get</tt>, <tt>:patch</tt>, <tt>:put</tt>, <tt>:delete</tt> and
+  # <tt>:any</tt>.  If your route needs to respond to more than one method you
+  # can use an array, e.g. <tt>[ :get, :post ]</tt>.  The default value is
+  # <tt>:any</tt> which means that the route will respond to any of the HTTP
+  # methods.
   #
   # Examples:
   #
@@ -198,7 +201,7 @@ module ActionDispatch
   # === HTTP helper methods
   #
   # An alternative method of specifying which HTTP method a route should respond to is to use the helper
-  # methods <tt>get</tt>, <tt>post</tt>, <tt>put</tt> and <tt>delete</tt>.
+  # methods <tt>get</tt>, <tt>post</tt>, <tt>patch</tt>, <tt>put</tt> and <tt>delete</tt>.
   #
   # Examples:
   #
@@ -283,6 +286,6 @@ module ActionDispatch
     autoload :PolymorphicRoutes, 'action_dispatch/routing/polymorphic_routes'
 
     SEPARATORS = %w( / . ? ) #:nodoc:
-    HTTP_METHODS = [:get, :head, :post, :put, :delete, :options] #:nodoc:
+    HTTP_METHODS = [:get, :head, :post, :patch, :put, :delete, :options] #:nodoc:
   end
 end
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/routing/mapper.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/routing/mapper.rb
index cf9c0d7b6a..bb0441c100 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/routing/mapper.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/routing/mapper.rb
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ require 'action_dispatch/routing/redirection'
 module ActionDispatch
   module Routing
     class Mapper
+      cattr_accessor(:default_method_for_update) {:put}
+
       class Constraints #:nodoc:
         def self.new(app, constraints, request = Rack::Request)
           if constraints.any?
@@ -465,7 +467,7 @@ module ActionDispatch
         #
         # Example:
         #
-        # get 'bacon', :to => 'food#bacon'
+        #   get 'bacon', :to => 'food#bacon'
         def get(*args, &block)
           map_method(:get, args, &block)
         end
@@ -475,17 +477,27 @@ module ActionDispatch
         #
         # Example:
         #
-        # post 'bacon', :to => 'food#bacon'
+        #   post 'bacon', :to => 'food#bacon'
         def post(*args, &block)
           map_method(:post, args, &block)
         end
 
+        # Define a route that only recognizes HTTP PATCH.
+        # For supported arguments, see <tt>Base#match</tt>.
+        #
+        # Example:
+        #
+        #   patch 'bacon', :to => 'food#bacon'
+        def patch(*args, &block)
+          map_method(:patch, args, &block)
+        end
+
         # Define a route that only recognizes HTTP PUT.
         # For supported arguments, see <tt>Base#match</tt>.
         #
         # Example:
         #
-        # put 'bacon', :to => 'food#bacon'
+        #   put 'bacon', :to => 'food#bacon'
         def put(*args, &block)
           map_method(:put, args, &block)
         end
@@ -495,7 +507,7 @@ module ActionDispatch
         #
         # Example:
         #
-        # delete 'broccoli', :to => 'food#broccoli'
+        #   delete 'broccoli', :to => 'food#broccoli'
         def delete(*args, &block)
           map_method(:delete, args, &block)
         end
@@ -522,13 +534,13 @@ module ActionDispatch
       # This will create a number of routes for each of the posts and comments
       # controller. For <tt>Admin::PostsController</tt>, Rails will create:
       #
-      #   GET	    /admin/posts
-      #   GET	    /admin/posts/new
-      #   POST	  /admin/posts
-      #   GET	    /admin/posts/1
-      #   GET	    /admin/posts/1/edit
-      #   PUT	    /admin/posts/1
-      #   DELETE  /admin/posts/1
+      #   GET       /admin/posts
+      #   GET       /admin/posts/new
+      #   POST      /admin/posts
+      #   GET       /admin/posts/1
+      #   GET       /admin/posts/1/edit
+      #   PUT/PATCH /admin/posts/1
+      #   DELETE    /admin/posts/1
       #
       # If you want to route /posts (without the prefix /admin) to
       # <tt>Admin::PostsController</tt>, you could use
@@ -556,13 +568,13 @@ module ActionDispatch
       # not use scope. In the last case, the following paths map to
       # +PostsController+:
       #
-      #   GET	    /admin/posts
-      #   GET	    /admin/posts/new
-      #   POST	  /admin/posts
-      #   GET	    /admin/posts/1
-      #   GET	    /admin/posts/1/edit
-      #   PUT	    /admin/posts/1
-      #   DELETE  /admin/posts/1
+      #   GET       /admin/posts
+      #   GET       /admin/posts/new
+      #   POST      /admin/posts
+      #   GET       /admin/posts/1
+      #   GET       /admin/posts/1/edit
+      #   PUT/PATCH /admin/posts/1
+      #   DELETE    /admin/posts/1
       module Scoping
         # Scopes a set of routes to the given default options.
         #
@@ -651,13 +663,13 @@ module ActionDispatch
         #
         # This generates the following routes:
         #
-        #       admin_posts GET    /admin/posts(.:format)          admin/posts#index
-        #       admin_posts POST   /admin/posts(.:format)          admin/posts#create
-        #    new_admin_post GET    /admin/posts/new(.:format)      admin/posts#new
-        #   edit_admin_post GET    /admin/posts/:id/edit(.:format) admin/posts#edit
-        #        admin_post GET    /admin/posts/:id(.:format)      admin/posts#show
-        #        admin_post PUT    /admin/posts/:id(.:format)      admin/posts#update
-        #        admin_post DELETE /admin/posts/:id(.:format)      admin/posts#destroy
+        #       admin_posts GET       /admin/posts(.:format)          admin/posts#index
+        #       admin_posts POST      /admin/posts(.:format)          admin/posts#create
+        #    new_admin_post GET       /admin/posts/new(.:format)      admin/posts#new
+        #   edit_admin_post GET       /admin/posts/:id/edit(.:format) admin/posts#edit
+        #        admin_post GET       /admin/posts/:id(.:format)      admin/posts#show
+        #        admin_post PUT/PATCH /admin/posts/:id(.:format)      admin/posts#update
+        #        admin_post DELETE    /admin/posts/:id(.:format)      admin/posts#destroy
         #
         # === Options
         #
@@ -972,12 +984,12 @@ module ActionDispatch
         # the +GeoCoders+ controller (note that the controller is named after
         # the plural):
         #
-        #   GET     /geocoder/new
-        #   POST    /geocoder
-        #   GET     /geocoder
-        #   GET     /geocoder/edit
-        #   PUT     /geocoder
-        #   DELETE  /geocoder
+        #   GET       /geocoder/new
+        #   POST      /geocoder
+        #   GET       /geocoder
+        #   GET       /geocoder/edit
+        #   PUT/PATCH /geocoder
+        #   DELETE    /geocoder
         #
         # === Options
         # Takes same options as +resources+.
@@ -1002,8 +1014,10 @@ module ActionDispatch
             member do
               get    :edit if parent_resource.actions.include?(:edit)
               get    :show if parent_resource.actions.include?(:show)
-              put    :update if parent_resource.actions.include?(:update)
               delete :destroy if parent_resource.actions.include?(:destroy)
+              if parent_resource.actions.include?(:update)
+                send default_method_for_update, :update
+              end
             end
           end
 
@@ -1020,13 +1034,13 @@ module ActionDispatch
         # creates seven different routes in your application, all mapping to
         # the +Photos+ controller:
         #
-        #   GET     /photos
-        #   GET     /photos/new
-        #   POST    /photos
-        #   GET     /photos/:id
-        #   GET     /photos/:id/edit
-        #   PUT     /photos/:id
-        #   DELETE  /photos/:id
+        #   GET       /photos
+        #   GET       /photos/new
+        #   POST      /photos
+        #   GET       /photos/:id
+        #   GET       /photos/:id/edit
+        #   PUT/PATCH /photos/:id
+        #   DELETE    /photos/:id
         #
         # Resources can also be nested infinitely by using this block syntax:
         #
@@ -1036,13 +1050,13 @@ module ActionDispatch
         #
         # This generates the following comments routes:
         #
-        #   GET     /photos/:photo_id/comments
-        #   GET     /photos/:photo_id/comments/new
-        #   POST    /photos/:photo_id/comments
-        #   GET     /photos/:photo_id/comments/:id
-        #   GET     /photos/:photo_id/comments/:id/edit
-        #   PUT     /photos/:photo_id/comments/:id
-        #   DELETE  /photos/:photo_id/comments/:id
+        #   GET       /photos/:photo_id/comments
+        #   GET       /photos/:photo_id/comments/new
+        #   POST      /photos/:photo_id/comments
+        #   GET       /photos/:photo_id/comments/:id
+        #   GET       /photos/:photo_id/comments/:id/edit
+        #   PUT/PATCH /photos/:photo_id/comments/:id
+        #   DELETE    /photos/:photo_id/comments/:id
         #
         # === Options
         # Takes same options as <tt>Base#match</tt> as well as:
@@ -1104,13 +1118,13 @@ module ActionDispatch
         #
         #   The +comments+ resource here will have the following routes generated for it:
         #
-        #     post_comments    GET    /posts/:post_id/comments(.:format)
-        #     post_comments    POST   /posts/:post_id/comments(.:format)
-        #     new_post_comment GET    /posts/:post_id/comments/new(.:format)
-        #     edit_comment     GET    /sekret/comments/:id/edit(.:format)
-        #     comment          GET    /sekret/comments/:id(.:format)
-        #     comment          PUT    /sekret/comments/:id(.:format)
-        #     comment          DELETE /sekret/comments/:id(.:format)
+        #     post_comments    GET       /posts/:post_id/comments(.:format)
+        #     post_comments    POST      /posts/:post_id/comments(.:format)
+        #     new_post_comment GET       /posts/:post_id/comments/new(.:format)
+        #     edit_comment     GET       /sekret/comments/:id/edit(.:format)
+        #     comment          GET       /sekret/comments/:id(.:format)
+        #     comment          PUT/PATCH /sekret/comments/:id(.:format)
+        #     comment          DELETE    /sekret/comments/:id(.:format)
         #
         # === Examples
         #
@@ -1138,11 +1152,14 @@ module ActionDispatch
               get :new
             end if parent_resource.actions.include?(:new)
 
+            # TODO: Only accept patch or put depending on config
             member do
               get    :edit if parent_resource.actions.include?(:edit)
               get    :show if parent_resource.actions.include?(:show)
-              put    :update if parent_resource.actions.include?(:update)
               delete :destroy if parent_resource.actions.include?(:destroy)
+              if parent_resource.actions.include?(:update)
+                send default_method_for_update, :update
+              end
             end
           end
 
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/testing/integration.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/testing/integration.rb
index 0287e7728b..62b3a344f8 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/testing/integration.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/testing/integration.rb
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ module ActionDispatch
       # object's <tt>@response</tt> instance variable will point to the same
       # response object.
       #
-      # You can also perform POST, PUT, DELETE, and HEAD requests with +#post+,
-      # +#put+, +#delete+, and +#head+.
+      # You can also perform POST, PATCH, PUT, DELETE, and HEAD requests with
+      # +#post+, +#patch+, +#put+, +#delete+, and +#head+.
       def get(path, parameters = nil, headers = nil)
         process :get, path, parameters, headers
       end
@@ -38,6 +38,12 @@ module ActionDispatch
         process :post, path, parameters, headers
       end
 
+      # Performs a PATCH request with the given parameters. See +#get+ for more
+      # details.
+      def patch(path, parameters = nil, headers = nil)
+        process :patch, path, parameters, headers
+      end
+
       # Performs a PUT request with the given parameters. See +#get+ for more
       # details.
       def put(path, parameters = nil, headers = nil)
@@ -65,10 +71,10 @@ module ActionDispatch
       # Performs an XMLHttpRequest request with the given parameters, mirroring
       # a request from the Prototype library.
       #
-      # The request_method is +:get+, +:post+, +:put+, +:delete+ or +:head+; the
-      # parameters are +nil+, a hash, or a url-encoded or multipart string;
-      # the headers are a hash. Keys are automatically upcased and prefixed
-      # with 'HTTP_' if not already.
+      # The request_method is +:get+, +:post+, +:patch+, +:put+, +:delete+ or
+      # +:head+; the parameters are +nil+, a hash, or a url-encoded or multipart
+      # string; the headers are a hash.  Keys are automatically upcased and
+      # prefixed with 'HTTP_' if not already.
       def xml_http_request(request_method, path, parameters = nil, headers = nil)
         headers ||= {}
         headers['HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH'] = 'XMLHttpRequest'
@@ -108,6 +114,12 @@ module ActionDispatch
         request_via_redirect(:post, path, parameters, headers)
       end
 
+      # Performs a PATCH request, following any subsequent redirect.
+      # See +request_via_redirect+ for more information.
+      def patch_via_redirect(path, parameters = nil, headers = nil)
+        request_via_redirect(:patch, path, parameters, headers)
+      end
+
       # Performs a PUT request, following any subsequent redirect.
       # See +request_via_redirect+ for more information.
       def put_via_redirect(path, parameters = nil, headers = nil)
@@ -318,7 +330,7 @@ module ActionDispatch
         @integration_session = Integration::Session.new(app)
       end
 
-      %w(get post put head delete options cookies assigns
+      %w(get post put patch head delete options cookies assigns
          xml_http_request xhr get_via_redirect post_via_redirect).each do |method|
         define_method(method) do |*args|
           reset! unless integration_session
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_view/base.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_view/base.rb
index 23329d7f35..4641f10dc8 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_view/base.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_view/base.rb
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ module ActionView #:nodoc:
   class Base
     include Helpers, ::ERB::Util, Context
 
+    cattr_accessor(:default_method_for_update) {:put}
+
     # Specify the proc used to decorate input tags that refer to attributes with errors.
     cattr_accessor :field_error_proc
     @@field_error_proc = Proc.new{ |html_tag, instance| "<div class=\"field_with_errors\">#{html_tag}</div>".html_safe }
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/form_helper.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/form_helper.rb
index cae345a1d6..33d509d968 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/form_helper.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/form_helper.rb
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ module ActionView
       #
       # You can force the form to use the full array of HTTP verbs by setting
       #
-      #    :method => (:get|:post|:put|:delete)
+      #    :method => (:get|:post|:patch|:put|:delete)
       #
       # in the options hash. If the verb is not GET or POST, which are natively supported by HTML forms, the
       # form will be set to POST and a hidden input called _method will carry the intended verb for the server
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ module ActionView
         object = convert_to_model(object)
 
         as = options[:as]
-        action, method = object.respond_to?(:persisted?) && object.persisted? ? [:edit, :put] : [:new, :post]
+        action, method = object.respond_to?(:persisted?) && object.persisted? ? [:edit, ActionView::Base.default_method_for_update] : [:new, :post]
         options[:html].reverse_merge!(
           :class  => as ? "#{action}_#{as}" : dom_class(object, action),
           :id     => as ? "#{action}_#{as}" : [options[:namespace], dom_id(object, action)].compact.join("_").presence,
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/url_helper.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/url_helper.rb
index b5fc882e31..93f476926c 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/url_helper.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/url_helper.rb
@@ -146,12 +146,12 @@ module ActionView
       #   create an HTML form and immediately submit the form for processing using
       #   the HTTP verb specified. Useful for having links perform a POST operation
       #   in dangerous actions like deleting a record (which search bots can follow
-      #   while spidering your site). Supported verbs are <tt>:post</tt>, <tt>:delete</tt> and <tt>:put</tt>.
+      #   while spidering your site). Supported verbs are <tt>:post</tt>, <tt>:delete</tt>, <tt>:patch</tt>, and <tt>:put</tt>.
       #   Note that if the user has JavaScript disabled, the request will fall back
       #   to using GET. If <tt>:href => '#'</tt> is used and the user has JavaScript
       #   disabled clicking the link will have no effect. If you are relying on the
       #   POST behavior, you should check for it in your controller's action by using
-      #   the request object's methods for <tt>post?</tt>, <tt>delete?</tt> or <tt>put?</tt>.
+      #   the request object's methods for <tt>post?</tt>, <tt>delete?</tt>, <tt>:patch</tt>, or <tt>put?</tt>.
       # * <tt>:remote => true</tt> - This will allow the unobtrusive JavaScript
       #   driver to make an Ajax request to the URL in question instead of following
       #   the link. The drivers each provide mechanisms for listening for the
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ module ActionView
       #
       # There are a few special +html_options+:
       # * <tt>:method</tt> - Symbol of HTTP verb. Supported verbs are <tt>:post</tt>, <tt>:get</tt>,
-      #   <tt>:delete</tt> and <tt>:put</tt>. By default it will be <tt>:post</tt>.
+      #   <tt>:delete</tt>, <tt>:patch</tt>, and <tt>:put</tt>. By default it will be <tt>:post</tt>.
       # * <tt>:disabled</tt> - If set to true, it will generate a disabled button.
       # * <tt>:confirm</tt> - This will use the unobtrusive JavaScript driver to
       #   prompt with the question specified. If the user accepts, the link is
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ module ActionView
         remote = html_options.delete('remote')
 
         method     = html_options.delete('method').to_s
-        method_tag = %w{put delete}.include?(method) ? method_tag(method) : ""
+        method_tag = %w{put patch delete}.include?(method) ? method_tag(method) : ""
 
         form_method  = method == 'get' ? 'get' : 'post'
         form_options = html_options.delete('form') || {}
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_view/railtie.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_view/railtie.rb
index 43371a1c49..b2926006b4 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_view/railtie.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_view/railtie.rb
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ module ActionView
     end
 
     initializer "action_view.set_configs" do |app|
+      ActionView::Base.default_method_for_update = app.config.default_method_for_update
       ActiveSupport.on_load(:action_view) do
         app.config.action_view.each do |k,v|
           send "#{k}=", v