From: Michael Neumann <neumann@...>
Date: 2001-04-30T18:08:32+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:14433] Re: || .. or Question

Pixel wrote:
> about surprising precedence:
> 
> Math.sqrt (1-2).abs       is      (Math.sqrt(1-2)).abs
> p (1..10).to_a            is      (p(1..10)).to_a
> 
> 
> but
> 
> return (1-2).abs          is      return((1-2).abs)
> 
> which show that "return" is parsed differently even if it has a functional
> syntax just like "Math.sqrt". "return" has a lower precedence

Return is a keyword in Ruby not a method call. It's parsing behavior is
hard-coded in the parser.

   (return (1-2)).abs 

gives me a compile error, because "return" is not an expression but an
statement (or "void value expression") which value is "void" (not nil!).
The same is with "while".

The usage of "return" inside an expression does not make sense for me.
Also that of "while" is not that useful, I think.


Regards

Michael


-- 
Michael Neumann
merlin.zwo InfoDesign GmbH
http://www.merlin-zwo.de