From: Paul Lutus <nospam@...>
Date: 2006-11-18T02:45:05+09:00
Subject: Re: ruby equivalent PHP function is_numeric?

Rimantas Liubertas wrote:

>> > After reading completely my Ruby book, I cannot find a function
>> > equivalent to the PHP  is_numeric? to test a String
>> >
>> > myString.is_numeric?   (check only digits and dot character)   =>
>> > return true or false
> <...>
> 
>> def is_numeric?(s)
>>   return (s.to_s =~ /^\d+(\.\d+|\d*)$/)?true:false
>> end
> <...>
> 
>>> is_numeric?("1000_000")
> => false
> 
> In ruby it is not only about dot and digits, but also underscores.

What purpose does the underscore play? I see that it is accepted, I just
can't figure out why. I have never seen it as part of proper numeric
syntax, anywhere, in three decades in this business.

a = 1_2_3_4_5_6_7 # => 1234567

What's the point?

-- 
Paul Lutus
http://www.arachnoid.com