How-To Geek

Ruby Function (method) Syntax

The Ruby language makes it easy to create functions.

Function Syntax

def functionname(variable)
   return <value>
end

Examples

Your function can compute values and store them in local variables that are specific to the function. Those values can then be returned with the return statement.

def say_hello(name)
   var = ”Hello, ” + name
   return var
end

The return statement also can be shortened for very simple functions into a single line

def say_hello(name)
   return “Hello, ” + name
end

You can simplify the function further. The last expression that is evaluated is automatically returned by the method. For example:

def say_hello(name)
   “Hello, ” + name
end

This would return the same value as the prior functions.

To call a function

function param1, param2

or

function(param1,param2)

Example

puts say_hello(“Geek”)

Don't show again X

Subscribe

Daily Email Updates

You can get our how-to articles in your inbox each day for free. Just enter your email below:


Email:

Comments (3)

  1. punund

    If this is “geek” then I am a ballet dancer

  2. Buster Gonads

    lol @punund

  3. Deryl Doucette

    Hey good job, Geek. Good to see people making sometimes-difficult-to-grasp concepts clear for those trying to learn to geek.

Comments are closed on this post.

If you'd like to continue the discussion on this topic, you can do so at our forum.


Go to the Forum