From: Ash <smashwilson@...>
Date: 2007-03-16T09:20:06+09:00
Subject: Re: to_a

On Mar 15, 8:07 pm, Corey Konrad <0...@hush.com> wrote:
> how come this works:
>
> array = (1..8).to_a
> puts array[1]
>
> but this does not:
>
> array = 1..8
> array.to_a
> puts array[1]
>
> what do the () in the above example do that makes it work?
>
> thanks
>
> --
> Posted viahttp://www.ruby-forum.com/.

The issue isn't with the parentheses, but with the behavior of the
#to_a method.  #to_a does not modify its receiver.  Instead, it builds
a new instance of Array and returns it.  In the first example, you're
capturing the return value of #to_a and assigning it to the variable
"array".  In the second, you're assigning a Range to the variable
"array", calling #to_a on it, and tossing the Array you get back on
the floor.

To make the second example work properly, you need to capture the
return value in a new variable and use that instead:

array = 1..8
result = array.to_a
puts result[1]