Is there a way to make a method that can accept a parameter, but can also be called without one, in which case the parameter is regarded nil like the following?
some_func(variable)
some_func
3 Answers
def some_func(variable = nil)
...
end
Besides the more obvious option of parameters with default values, that Sawa has already shown, using arrays or hashes might be handy in some cases. Both solutions preserve nil as a an argument.
1. Receive as array:
def some_func(*args)
puts args.count
end
some_func("x", nil)
# 2
2. Send and receive as hash:
def some_func(**args)
puts args.count
end
some_func(a: "x", b: nil)
# 2
You can also use a hash as argument and have more freedom:
def print_arg(args = {})
if args.has_key?(:age)
puts args[:age]
end
end
print_arg
# =>
print_arg(age: 35, weight: 90)
# => 35
