From: David Vallner <david@...>
Date: 2006-01-12T02:37:55+09:00
Subject: Re: use of "return"

Robert Klemme wrote:

>Dirk Meijer wrote:
>  
>
>>hi,
>>'return' is used to return a value, and end the method processing.
>>at the end of a method, 'return' is indeed not needed, and simply
>>that value will suffice, though i think a return looks nicer ;-)
>>a good example where a return is needed, is this:
>>
>>  def method(arg)
>>    if arg.class==String
>>      return "invalid argument"
>>    end
>>    #rest of processing
>>  end
>>
>>this looks a lot nicer than placing your entire method in if/else
>>code. greetings, Dirk.
>>    
>>
>
>In this case you wouldn't use return values to flag this error.  It's is a
>typical case for exceptions.
>
>def mett(arg)
>  raise ArgumentError, "#{arg.inspect} is not a String" unless String ===
>arg
>  # further processing
>end
>
>And taking this even further, in the light of Duck Typing (TM) usually no
>type checks of this kind are made at all. :-)
>
>Kind regards
>
>    robert
>
>
>  
>
Indeed, arg.to_str would be a more consistent duck typecheck. (Le Groan, 
what gruesome terminoogy sees the light of day.)

David Vallner