Ruby Methods

A method in Ruby is a set of expressions that returns a value. The value can be of any data type such as string, integer, float, boolean, etc. In this section, we will cover everything you need to know about Ruby methods.

Syntax

The general syntax for defining a method in Ruby is as follows:

def method_name(parameters)
  # code block
  return value
end

Here, def is the keyword used to define a method, method_name is the name of the method, and parameters are the variables that the method takes as inputs. The code block is the set of expressions that are executed when the method is called.

Example

Let's define a simple method that adds two numbers:

def add_numbers(num1, num2)
  sum = num1 + num2
  return sum
end

To call this method, we simply need to pass two numbers as inputs:

result = add_numbers(5, 10)
puts result   # Output: 15

Output

The output of a method is the value that is returned by the return statement in the method's code block. In the example above, the output is the sum of the two numbers.

Explanation

Methods are important in Ruby because they allow us to reuse code and make it more modular. By defining a method, we can encapsulate a set of expressions and simply call the method whenever we need to execute those expressions.

The return statement is used to return a value from the method. If there is no return statement, the method will automatically return the value of the last expression evaluated in the method's code block.

Use

Methods are used extensively in Ruby programming. They allow us to write cleaner and more modular code. Common uses for methods include:

• Performing complex calculations
• Manipulating data structures
• Modifying or updating objects
• Interacting with external systems (e.g. databases)

Important Points

• A method is a set of expressions that returns a value
• Methods are defined using the def keyword, followed by the method name and any parameters
• The code block is the set of expressions that are executed when the method is called
• The return statement is used to return a value from the method
• Methods are an important tool for writing clean and maintainable code in Ruby

Summary

In this section, we learned about Ruby methods. We covered the syntax for defining a method, how to call a method, and the importance of using methods in our code. Remember that methods are a powerful tool for writing clean, modular, and maintainable code in Ruby.