From: Siep Korteling <s.korteling@...>
Date: 2008-02-07T20:42:36+09:00
Subject: Re: info on block arguments

Russell Me wrote:
> I'm trying to pick up ruby and I'm impressed by all the cool stuff it
> does out of the box. I'm reading a few books but i'm finding why's
> poignant guide to ruby to be the most helpful and entertaining
> (http://poignantguide.net/ruby).
> 
> However, I'm a bit stuck understanding how block arguments work. in his
> example:
> 
> kitty_toys = [
>    {:shape => 'sock', :fabric => 'cashmere'},
>    {:shape => 'mouse', :fabric => 'calico'},
>    {:shape => 'eggroll', :fabric => 'chenille'}
>  ]
> 
> kitty_toys.sort_by { |toy| toy[:shape] }.each do |toy|
>    puts "Blixy has a #{ toy[:shape] } made of #{ toy[:fabric] }"
>  end
> 
> I know what it does. I put it through irb and it works. But i don't
> understand HOW it works, exactly. Mainly, the toy bit. I don't quite get
> what role it plays in the code and how the code uses it.
> 
> I've read up online and in both books I have, but, for whatever reason i
> STILL cannot grasp block arguments and what role they play.
> 
> Maybe I'm just brain farting here, but if anyone could lend some tips on
> this I'd appreciate it.

I think of a block as Cookiemonster from Sesame street. When you throw 
something at him, he will name it "cookie" and then eat it. In this case 
you throw each element of kitty_toys, the block will call them all "toy" 
and process them.
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