class Friendship < ApplicationRecord
 belongs_to :user
 belongs_to :friend, :class_name => "User"
 end

def search
    @users = User.search(params[:search_param]) #this .search is a class level method, which is defined in the user.rb file

    if @users
        @users = current_user.except_current_user(@users)

    render partial: "friends/lookup"
    else
    render status: :not_found, nothing: true
    end

end

<div id="friend-lookup">
<h3>Search for friends</h3>
<%= form_tag search_friends_path, remote: true, method: :get, id: "friend-lookup-form" do %>
<div class="form-group row no-padding text-center col-md-12">
    <div class="col-md-10">
        <%= text_field_tag :search_param, params[:search_param], placeholder: "First name, last name or email", autofocus: true, class: "form-control search-box
        input-lg" %>
    </div>
    <div class="col-md-2">
        <%= button_tag(type: :submit, class: "btn btn-lg btn-success") do %>
        <i class="fa fa-search"></i> Look up a friend
        <% end %>
    </div>
</div>
<% end %>

<%= render 'common/spinner' %>

<% if @users %>
<% if @users.size > 0 %>
<div id="friend-lookup-results" class="well results-block">
    <table class="search-results-table col-md-12">
        <tbody>
            <% @users.each do |user| %>
            <tr>
                <td><strong>Name</strong><%= @user.full_name %></td>
                <td><strong>Email</strong><%= @user.email %></td>
                <td><strong>Placeholder</strong><%= @user.full_name %></td> <!-- transaction -->
                <td><% if current_user.not_friends_with?(user.id) %>
                <%= link_to "Add as friend", add_friend_path(user: current_user, friend: user),
                class: "btn btn-xs btn-success", method: :post %>
                <% else %>
                 <span class = "label label-primary">
                     You are friends
                 </span>
                 <% end %>
                </td>
            </tr>
            <% end %>
        </tbody>
    </table>
</div>