CODEWITHSUNDEEP
rubyiterator
JaTo
JaTo

Reputation: 2832

Difference between each and select in the below code? ruby

I am still trying to figure out the difference between each and select after reading the documentation.

Can someone explain to me why each and select are replaceable in the below code? I don't understand why select is used and then the code-writer places it an array?? Also, what is a good way to understand their differences.

def word_unscrambler(str, words)
  str_letters = str.split("").sort

  anagrams = []
  words.select do |word|
    word_letters = word.split("").sort
    anagrams << word if str_letters == word_letters
  end

  anagrams
end

Upvotes: 0

Views: 443

Answers (2)

lurker
lurker

Reputation: 58284

Although it iterates the same way each does, the purpose of select is to return a collection based upon the select criteria. In that particular code snippet, it returns a collection based upon the truth value of anagrams << word if str_letters == word_letters for each word but then discards that collection.

Alternatively, it could have done it this way:

def word_unscrambler(str, words)
  str_letters = str.split("").sort

  words.select { |word| str_letters == word.split("").sort }
end

As was already said, the author of the code evidently doesn't understand how select works.

Upvotes: 5

J&#246;rg W Mittag
J&#246;rg W Mittag

Reputation: 369536

I don't understand why select is used

Because the author of that code doesn't understand select.

Upvotes: 4

Related Questions