How to pass multiple arguments into a Ruby method

Question

Passing one argument at a time into the parser method works. More than one and it generates "syntax error, unexpected ',', expecting ')' (SyntaxError)"

$array = []
array_1 = %w(tuna salmon herring)
array_2 = %w(crow owl eagle dove)

def parser (*argument)
  argument.each do |item|
    $array << item
  end
end

parser (array_1, array_2) # taking multiple arguments generates error
$array.flatten!
puts $array

Lily Ballard · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-18 23:35:53Z

5

It's the space before the parens. Remove it. Instead of treating array_1 and array_2 as args, it's treating it as a parenthesized expression (with the whole expression being one arg) and complaining about the comma. Your code should look like

parser(array_1, array_2)

Incidentally, Ruby 1.8.7 seems to simply emit a warning about this before behaving correctly.

answered Mar 18, 2013 at 23:35

Lily Ballard

187k34 gold badges390 silver badges350 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

rogerdpack Over a year ago

guess they changed behavior at 1.9 time?

Lily Ballard Over a year ago

@rogerdpack: Presumably so. I don't have Ruby 1.9 installed so I can't test.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to pass multiple arguments into a Ruby method

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related