From: "Guy N. Hurst" <gnhurst@...>
Date: 2000-12-08T03:19:01+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:6907] Array#rassoc question(s)

In trying to understand Array#assoc and Array#rassoc, I noticed
I couldn't relate it to the difference between, for example,
Array#index vs. Array#rindex, in which the "r" could stand for
reversed, or right-sided, because Array#rassoc has nothing to
do with starting from the right side.

Dave and Andy explain that it looks at the *second* element
of each contained array (Array#assoc looks at the first).

Of course, I start thinking maybe they are mistaken - but their 
example uses arrays with two elements each, which does not
distinguish between "second" element, and "last" element.
So I am left wondering if it really is just the second element?

After testing the feature with three elements, I proved to myself
that it is indeed the second element that is compared.

Well, this just begs the question(s)...

1) why was Array#rassoc made to look at the second element
instead of the last element?
2) doesn't the current behavior of Array#rassoc conflict with POLS?
3) how about having a method to compare the Nth element?
(maybe add a parameter to Array#assoc for that purpose)

I realize that I could make my own method for doing #3, but that
does not address the issue in (1) and (2)


Guy N. Hurst

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