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Ruby Hash.delete_if Method

By IncludeHelp Last updated : December 01, 2024

In this article, we will study about Hash.delete_if Method. The working of this method can be predicted with the help of its name but it is not as simple as it seems. Well, we will understand this method with the help of its syntax and program code in the rest of the content.

Description and Usage

This method is a public instance method that is defined in the ruby library especially for Hash class. The changes created by this method are permanent or non-temporary. This method works in a way that it will delete all the keys for which the block has been evaluated to be true. If you are not providing any block then an enumerator will be returned.

Syntax

Hash_object.delete_if{|key,value| block}

Parameters

This method does not require any argument. However, a block can be passed for the desired result.

Example 1

=begin
  Ruby program to demonstrate delete_if method
=end	

hsh = Hash.new()

hsh["color"] = "Black"
hsh["age"] = 20
hsh["school"] = "Angels' Academy Haridwar"
hsh["college"] = "Graphic Era University"

puts "Hash delete_if implementation"
puts "#{hsh.delete_if{|key,value| key>="school"}}"
puts "Hash contents are : #{hsh}"

Output

Hash delete_if implementation
{"color"=>"Black", "age"=>20, "college"=>"Graphic Era University"}
Hash contents are : {"color"=>"Black", "age"=>20, "college"=>"Graphic Era University"}

Explanation

In the above code, you can observe that we are removing keys from the hash object based on some condition. The method is returning a hash which is containing all those keys which stood false when the condition was tested on them. The method is creating permanent change on the hash object.

Example 2

=begin
  Ruby program to demonstrate delete_if method
=end	

hsh = Hash.new()

hsh["color"] = "Black"
hsh["age"] = 20
hsh["school"] = "Angels' Academy Haridwar"
hsh["college"] = "Graphic Era University"

puts "Hash delete_if implementation"
puts "#{hsh.delete_if}"
puts "Hash contents are : #{hsh}"

Output

Hash delete_if implementation
#<Enumerator:0x00005654a524a428>
Hash contents are : {"color"=>"Black", "age"=>20, "school"=>"Angels' Academy Haridwar", "college"=>"Graphic Era University"}

Explanation

In the above code, you can observe that when we are invoking the method without any block, an enumerator has been returned without creating any changes in the actual hash.