How To Convert Data Types in Ruby?

Data type conversion is a frequent job in Ruby, particularly when working with various data types or integrating with other systems. Ruby offers a wide range of operators and methods for fluid data type conversion. Effective Ruby programming requires an understanding of these conversion methods. The most popular approaches and strategies for converting data types in Ruby will be covered in this article.

Methods to convert Data Types in Ruby

1. Implicit Conversion

Ruby performs implicit conversions automatically in certain situations, such as during arithmetic operations or when using comparison operators. For example:

num_str = "10"
num_int = num_str.to_i
puts num_int + 5 

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2. Explicit Conversion

Explicit conversion involves using methods provided by Ruby to explicitly convert data types. Some common conversion methods include to_i (to integer), to_f (to float), and to_s (to string).

str = "123"
int = str.to_i
float = str.to_f

3. String to Integer or Float

Converting a string to an integer or float is straightforward using the to_i and to_f methods, respectively.

str = "123"
int = str.to_i
float = str.to_f

4. Integer or Float to String

Converting an integer or float to a string is done using the to_s method.

num_int = 123
num_float = 3.14
str_int = num_int.to_s
str_float = num_float.to_s

5. Array to String

Converting an array to a string can be done using the join method.

arr = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
str = arr.join(", ") 
# Output: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5"

6. String to Array

To convert a string to an array, you can use the split method.

str = "apple,banana,orange"
arr = str.split(",") 
# Output: ["apple", "banana", "orange"]

7. Symbol to String and Vice Versa

Symbols and strings are closely related in Ruby. Conversion between them can be achieved using to_sym and to_s methods.

sym = :hello
str = sym.to_s

str = "hello"
sym = str.to_sym

Conclusion:

Writing effective and efficient Ruby code requires a fundamental understanding of data type conversion. Ruby offers simple ways to manage conversions between texts, integers, floats, arrays, and symbols without any trouble at all. Gaining proficiency with these conversion methods will improve your ability to work with various data formats and create reliable Ruby apps.