Since I started my Ruby learning process, one of the most basic and important things I consider, is the POLS (Principle of the Least Surprise).
This week, a new question about “string pattern formatting”, came up on the forum.
Considering this code:
'%0.2f' % ((f.to_f - 32) / 9 * 5)
Which is the meaning of the second “%” ?
After some research, I found two options on that “formatting” subject.
- You can format your data immediately, using the printf method.
f = -123.12345
puts sprintf('%0.3f', f)
- You can create a template, and interpolate data with it later.
template = '%s, has always been in %s with %s.'
puts template % ['Oceania', 'war', '
puts template % ['Luke Skywalker', 'love', 'Leia Organa']
OK, there is a nice functionality, but about POLS ?
For sure I have little experience with Ruby, but the fact, you can use the modulus operator over strings, really surprises-me.
I deal with a great assort of programming languages over 2 decades now, and never ever, applied the modulus operator over strings.
Think about this code:
puts 'abc' % 'def' # <= 'abc'
puts 'abc' % 10 # <= 'abc'
And there is another point. Negative numbers:
Witch should be the -5 % 3 result ? 2 ? -2 ?
In fact in Ruby, -5 % 3 = 1
Why ?
Some programming languages adopt the C89 standard about that subject. That is the way Ruby does:
remainder = a % n
is the same of:
remainder = a - n * floor_funtion(a / n)
where floor_function from a decimal value, returns the highest integer, less than or equal to it.
So, in Ruby this is the formula for modulus remainder result:
r = ((a) - ((n) * ((a) / (n))))
* Extra parenthesis, to put negative values easily and clear.
Ahh, take a look at those SuperRubyBoy's operators !
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6 comments:
You have to keep in mind that in Ruby there are NO operators... just method calls (or rather, messages) "masked" as operators (with the possible exception of the ternary ?: operator).
"abc" % 10 is just syntax sugar for "abc".%(10), just like 1 + 2 is equivalent to 1.+(2) and so on.
Given that, the truth is that you're NOT applying the "modulus" operator to a string, you're just calling a regular method which happens to have a "special" name.
If your really want to bend your mind have a look at this: http://jicksta.com/articles/2007/08/29/superators-add-new-operators-to-ruby
Thanks ste,
That is the reason of this blog. To force myself into Ruby thinking way.
Now I realize that I miss something on this Ruby translated formula:
r = ((a) - ((n) * ((a) / (n))))
It is not working with decimals.
Could You help ?
-5 mod 3 = 1 because -5 = 3(-2) + 1.
I have to say that this section has been frustrating to understand......but reading what you wrote has helped me a lot. Thanks! :)
Hi Ricardo, finally I understood the % concept. Thank you for your explanation!
The string interpolation with percent and percent operator are somewhat surprising to me (i think the importance of the operation is a bit exaggerated by assigning a separate and somewhat random operator to it).
However, what is wrong with -5 % 3 being 1? It is the remainder of division of -5 by 3 (which is the unique number in the interval 0..2 congruent to -5 mod 3). Indeed:
0 <= 1 <= 2, and - 5 - 1 = - 6 is divisible by 3.
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