eRB <%=

whats eRBs <%= doing in contrast to <%?

My Template

<%
  place = "World"
  _erbout << "Hello"
%> <%=
  place
%>

<%
  # Your ruby code here. The 'return value' of
  # the last statement does nothing
  "NOT IN THE OUTPUT"
%>

When an equals sign is involved, the 'return value'
of the last statement is turned into a string
and inserted into the output.
<%="THIS WILL BE IN THE OUTPUT"%>

···

From: Jonas Hartmann [mailto:Mail@Jonas-Hartmann.com]