Question

which is a better approach? a custom status code or render a text for ajax

render :text => "pusher"

or

render :nothing => true , :status => 900

for

$.ajax({
  success : function(d , s , r){
    if (d == "pusher"){
    }
  }
});

Answer 1

If you want to indicate success then you must return a 2XX status code or you’re not speaking HTTP. If you’re not return a valid status code then you can’t expect the clients do anything useful with your response.

So you have to return one of the 2XX status codes so you’re left with:

render :text => 'pusher'

as your only viable solution.