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| Common Array Methods |
Common Array Methods
Arrays are a core foundation of programming in Ruby and most languages. Arrays are so common that it is beneficial to know, and even memorize, some of their most commonly used methods. If you want to know more about Ruby Arrays, we have an article about them.
For the purpose of this guide, our array will be as follows:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
.length
The .length method tallies the number of elements in the array and returns the count:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.length
=> 5
This is also similar to .count and .size methods.
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.count
=> 5
array.size
=> 5
.first
The .first method returns the first element of the array, the element at index 0:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.first
=> 0
.last
The .last method returns the last element of the array:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.last
=> 4
.take
The .take method returns the first n elements of the array:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.take(3)
=> [0, 1, 2]
array
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
.drop
The .drop method returns the elements after n elements of the array:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.drop(3)
=> [3, 4]
array
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array index
You can return a specific element in an array by accessing its index. If the index does not exist in the array, nil will be returned:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array[2]
=> 2
array[5]
=> nil
.pop
The .pop method will permanently remove the last element of an array and return this element:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.pop
=> 4
array
=> [0, 1, 2, 3]
.shift
The .shift method will permanently remove the first element of an array and return this element:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.shift
=> 0
array
=> [1, 2, 3, 4]
.push
The .push method will add an element to the end of an array and return the array:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.push(99)
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 99]
array
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 99]
.unshift
The .unshift method adds an element to the beginning of an array and return the array:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.unshift(99)
=> [99, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array
=> [99, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
.delete
The .delete method removes a specified element from an array permanently and return the element:
array = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
=> [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
array.delete(3)
=> 3
array
=> [1, 2, 4, 5]
.delete_at
The .delete_at method permanently removes an element of an array at a specified index and return the element:
array = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
=> [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
array.delete_at(3)
=> 3
array
=> [1, 2, 3, 5]
.reverse
The .reverse method returns a new array that includes the elements of the original array but in reverse order:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
new_array = array.reverse
=> [4, 3, 2, 1, 0]
new_array
=> [4, 3, 2, 1, 0]
array
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
.select
The .select method iterates over an array and returns a new array that includes any items that return true to the expression provided:
array = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
=> [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
new_array = array.select { |number| number > 4 }
=> [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
new_array
=> [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
array
=> [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
.include?
The .include? method checks to see if the argument given is included in the array and returns true if it is:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.include?(3)
=> true
array.include?(5)
=> false
.flatten
The .flatten method can be used to take an array that contains nested arrays and create a one-dimensional array:
array = [1, 2, [3, 4, 5], [6, 7]]
=> [1, 2, [3, 4, 5], [6, 7]]
new_array = array.flatten
=> [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
new_array
=> [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
array
=> [1, 2, [3, 4, 5], [6, 7]]
.join
The .join method returns a string of all the elements of the array separated by a separator parameter. If the separator parameter is nil, the method uses an empty string as a separator between strings:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.join
=> "01234"
array.join("*")
=> "0*1*2*3*4"
array
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
.each
The .each method iterates over each element of the array, allowing you to perform actions on them:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.each { |element| puts element }
=>
0
1
2
3
4
array
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
.map
The .map method is the same as the .collect method. The .map and .collect methods iterate over each element of the array, allowing you to perform actions on them. The .map and .collect methods differ from the .each method in that they return an array containing the transformed elements:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
new_array = array.map { |element| element * 2 }
=> [0, 2, 4, 6, 8]
new_array
=> [0, 2, 4, 6, 8]
array
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
.uniq
The .uniq method returns a copy of the array containing only unique elements. Any duplicate elements are removed from the array. The original array is not modified.
array = [1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
=> [1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
new_array = array.uniq
=> [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
new_array
=> [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
array
=> [1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
.concat
The .concat method appends the elements from an array to the original array. The .concat method can take in multiple arrays as an argument, which will in turn append multiple arrays to the original array:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.concat([5, 6, 7], [8, 9, 10])
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
array
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
.clear
The .clear method will delete all the data in the array:
array = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
array.clear
=> []
array
=> []