Ruby Arrays

Introduction to Ruby Arrays

In Ruby, arrays are dynamic data structures that can store a collection of items. These items can be of any type, including numbers, strings, or even other arrays. Arrays in Ruby are versatile and come with a rich set of methods that make data manipulation straightforward and efficient.

Creating an Array

Creating an array in Ruby is simple. You can use square brackets to define an array, and you can initialize it with or without elements.

Accessing Elements

Elements in a Ruby array can be accessed using their index, which starts at 0. You can also use negative indices to access elements from the end of the array.

Common Array Methods

Ruby arrays come with a variety of methods that allow you to manipulate the elements easily. Here are some commonly used methods:

• map: Transforms each element in the array based on the block's logic.
• select: Returns a new array containing all elements for which the given block returns a true value.
• push: Adds an element to the end of the array.
• pop: Removes the last element from the array.

Iterating Over Arrays

Iterating over arrays is a common task. Ruby provides several methods to iterate over arrays, such as each and each_with_index.

Conclusion

Ruby arrays are powerful tools for managing collections of data. With their dynamic nature and extensive set of methods, they provide a flexible solution for a wide range of programming challenges. Understanding how to use arrays effectively will greatly enhance your Ruby programming skills.