Index: actionpack/test/template/form_helper_test.rb
===================================================================
--- actionpack/test/template/form_helper_test.rb	(revision 3546)
+++ actionpack/test/template/form_helper_test.rb	(working copy)
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@
       '<input checked="checked" id="post_secret" name="post[secret]" type="checkbox" value="1" /><input name="post[secret]" type="hidden" value="0" />',
       check_box("post", "secret")
     )
+    assert_dom_equal(
+      '<input checked="checked" id="post_secret" name="post[secret]" type="checkbox" value="1" />',
+      check_box("post", "secret", :no_hidden => true)
+    )
   end
 
   def test_check_box_with_explicit_checked_and_unchecked_values
Index: actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/form_helper.rb
===================================================================
--- actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/form_helper.rb	(revision 3546)
+++ actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/form_helper.rb	(working copy)
@@ -210,6 +210,8 @@
       #   check_box("puppy", "gooddog", {}, "yes", "no")
       #     <input type="checkbox" id="puppy_gooddog" name="puppy[gooddog]" value="yes" />
       #     <input name="puppy[gooddog]" type="hidden" value="no" />
+      #
+      # You can disable generation of the hidden value by passing the option :no_hidden => true.
       def check_box(object_name, method, options = {}, checked_value = "1", unchecked_value = "0")
         InstanceTag.new(object_name, method, self, nil, options.delete(:object)).to_check_box_tag(options, checked_value, unchecked_value)
       end
@@ -302,7 +304,11 @@
           options.delete("checked")
         end
         add_default_name_and_id(options)
-        tag("input", options) << tag("input", "name" => options["name"], "type" => "hidden", "value" => unchecked_value)
+        if options.delete("no_hidden")
+          tag("input", options)
+        else
+          tag("input", options) << tag("input", "name" => options["name"], "type" => "hidden", "value" => unchecked_value)
+        end
       end
 
       def to_date_tag()