From: Rick DeNatale <rick.denatale@...>
Date: 2007-12-14T05:12:11+09:00
Subject: Re: Using print and puts for output

On 12/13/07, John Maclean <info@jayeola.org> wrote:
>
> ## Thu 13 Dec 2007 07:22:13 PM GMT
> # just play with an array and see what you can do with it
> a = `uname -a`.to_a
> print a.class
> puts a.class
> __END__
> what's the difference bewteen these two methods of printing? Both say
> the same thing. Also how can I find out for myself with ri? ri IO.print
> << is that it? ri IO.puts << is that it?

Puts is defined in terms of print, and handles multiple arguments and
elements ending with a separator somewhat differently

shadowfax:~/ssanta rick$ qri io#puts
---------------------------------------------------------------- IO#puts
     ios.puts(obj, ...)    => nil
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Writes the given objects to ios as with IO#print. Writes a record
     separator (typically a newline) after any that do not already end
     with a newline sequence. If called with an array argument, writes
     each element on a new line. If called without arguments, outputs a
     single record separator.

        $stdout.puts("this", "is", "a", "test")

     produces:

        this
        is
        a
        test

shadowfax:~/ssanta rick$ qri Kernel#print
----------------------------------------------------------- Kernel#print
     print(obj, ...)    => nil
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Prints each object in turn to $stdout. If the output field
     separator ($,) is not nil, its contents will appear between each
     field. If the output record separator ($\) is not nil, it will be
     appended to the output. If no arguments are given, prints $_.
     Objects that aren't strings will be converted by calling their
     to_s method.

        print "cat", [1,2,3], 99, "\n"
        $, = ", "
        $\ = "\n"
        print "cat", [1,2,3], 99

     produces:

        cat12399
        cat, 1, 2, 3, 99


-- 
Rick DeNatale

My blog on Ruby
http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/