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Hi,

I'd like to ask for some help with local variable scope. I understand
that the scope of a local variable is the "do...end" block in which it
is created. However, the code below shows that the value assigned to
the variable within a block does not persist after the single
iteration in which the variable is given that value, although the
variable is still defined in a later iteration. That is, in the idx=2
iteration, Ruby does not remember that a=11 in the previous iteration,
but it also does not complain about an undefined local variable "a"
(which it of course does outside the block). I haven't been able to
find this behavior mentioned in the documentation or in this
group--can you point me to something that will clarify for me what is
going on?

Thanks,
Steve

data=[1,2]
data.each do | idx|
if idx == 1
a = 11
print "idx=1: a=",a,"\n"
elsif idx == 2
b = 12
print "idx=2: a=",a," b=",b,"\n"
end
end
print "after:\n"
print "a=",a," b=",b,"\n"

>c:\ruby\bin\ruby test.rb
idx=1: a=11
idx=2: a=nil b=12
after:
test.rb:12: undefined local variable or method `a' for main:Object
(NameError)
>Exit code: 1

"Steve Cooper" <> wrote in message
> I'd like to ask for some help with local variable scope. I understand
> that the scope of a local variable is the "do...end" block in which it
> is created.

Correct (so far !

> However, the code below shows that the value assigned to
> the variable within a block does not persist after the single
> iteration in which the variable is given that value, although the
> variable is still defined in a later iteration.

Ah ha ! You are using the term _iteration_ to mean a
"looping construct" (control structure) and then in the example
using "each" which is an "iterator" (method).

In Ruby, a looping construct is _not the same_ as an iterator.
An iterator may be implemented using "yield" and some form
of a looping construct. This is nicely explained in Pickaxe.

> That is, in the idx=2 iteration, Ruby does not remember
> that a=11 in the previous iteration,
> but it also does not complain about an undefined local variable "a"
> (which it of course does outside the block).

Which is because you are using each (iterator).

> I haven't been able to
> find this behavior mentioned in the documentation or in this
> group--can you point me to something that will clarify for me what is
> going on?

Read the later half of Chapter 7 of PickAxe carefully, esp. the sub-topics
"Loops" onwards.

> data=[1,2]
> data.each do | idx|
> if idx == 1
> a = 11
> print "idx=1: a=",a,"\n"
> elsif idx == 2
> b = 12
> print "idx=2: a=",a," b=",b,"\n"
> end
> end
> print "after:\n"
> print "a=",a," b=",b,"\n"


If you rewrite this using a _looping construct_ such as

#----------------------
data=[1,2]
for idx in data
if (idx == 1)
a = 11
puts "idx=#{idx}: a=#{a}"
elsif (idx == 2)
b = 12
p "idx=#{idx}: a=#{a} b=#{b}"
end
end
#----------------------

then you should get the desired behavior.

Does that make sense ?

-- shanko

In message < > at Mon, 19 Jan 2004 04:10:03 +0900,
(Steve Cooper) wrote:
> I'd like to ask for some help with local variable scope. I understand
> that the scope of a local variable is the "do...end" block in which it
> is created. However, the code below shows that the value assigned to
> the variable within a block does not persist after the single
> iteration in which the variable is given that value, although the
> variable is still defined in a later iteration. That is, in the idx=2
> iteration, Ruby does not remember that a=11 in the previous iteration,
> but it also does not complain about an undefined local variable "a"
> (which it of course does outside the block). I haven't been able to
> find this behavior mentioned in the documentation or in this
> group--can you point me to something that will clarify for me what is
> going on?

Local variable is defined when it is parsed. And block
internal scope is initialized each block call. That is, in
the idx == 2 iteration, Ruby do:

(1) initialize block internal scope.
(2) parse ``a = 11'' line and define variable `a'.
(3) reference varaible `a', but it is not initialized (== nil).

> data=[1,2]
> data.each do | idx|
> if idx == 1
> a = 11
> print "idx=1: a=",a,"\n"
> elsif idx == 2
> b = 12
> print "idx=2: a=",a," b=",b,"\n"
> end
> end
> print "after:\n"
> print "a=",a," b=",b,"\n"
>
> >c:\ruby\bin\ruby test.rb
> idx=1: a=11
> idx=2: a=nil b=12
> after:
> test.rb:12: undefined local variable or method `a' for main:Object
> (NameError)
> >Exit code: 1

--
1024D/2A3FDBE6 2001-08-26 Kenta MURATA (muraken) <>
Key fingerprint = 622A 61D3 280F 4991 4833 5724 8E2D C5E1 2A3F DBE6