Expression values

In Ruby, every expression evaluates to some value

>> 2 + 2
=> 4
>> (2+2).zero?
=> false
>> "zero" if (2+2).zero?
=> nil

Function values

The value of a function is the value of the final statement

(or the value sent to return if that comes first)

Parameters and return values

def to_fahrenheit(celsius)
  celsius * 9.0 / 5 + 32
end

• celsius is a parameter
• the value of a function is the value of the final statement
  • in this case, the only statement
• the keyword return is available, but usually unnecessary

Arguments vs. Parameters

def to_fahrenheit(celsius)
  celsius * 9.0 / 5 + 32
end
boiling = 100
to_fahrenheit(boiling)

• Technically speaking, arguments are passed and parameters are declared
• Note that the variable names don't have to match!
• In this code, boiling is an argument and celsius is a parameter
  • In practice, the two terms are interchangeable

Splat arguments

def greet(greeting, *names)
  names.each do |name|
    puts "#{greeting}, #{name}!"
  end
end

>> greet("Hello", "Alice", "Bob", "Charlie")
Hello, Alice!
Hello, Bob!
Hello, Charlie!

Default values

def eat(food = "chicken")
  puts "Yum, #{food}!"
end

>> eat
Yum, chicken!

>> eat "arugula"
Yum, arugula!

The default hash parameter

When calling a method, if the final argument is a hash, you can leave off the curly braces

def add_to_x_and_y(amount, vals)
  x = vals[:x]
  y = vals[:y]
  x + y + amount
end

add_to_x_and_y(2, {:x => 1, :y => 2})

same as...

add_to_x_and_y 2, :x => 1, :y => 2

same as...

add_to_x_and_y 2, x: 1, y: 2

same as...

add_to_x_and_y 2, y: 2, x: 1 ```

the "options hash" pattern

To pass variable parameters, or to pass named parameters, you can use an options hash:

bake("Wheat")
bake("Sourdough", :flour => "sour")
bake("Pumpernickel", :creamer => "butter")

def bake(name, options = {})
  flour = options[:flour] || "rye"
  creamer = options[:creamer] || "cream"
  puts "baking a nice #{flour} loaf with #{creamer}"
end

 Previous Lesson Next Lesson 

Outline