CODEWITHSUNDEEP
ruby
HelloWorld
HelloWorld

Reputation: 11247

Why is the answer variable in this While Loop example?

I am learning ruby and computer science topics for the first time. I am reading through the book "Learn to program" By Chris Pine and have a question about an example.

Here is the code:

def ask(question)                           # new method with paramater question
  while true                                # starts a loop
    puts question                           # puts the question on the screen
    reply = gets.chomp.downcase             # gets the question and makes it lower case

    if (reply == "yes" || reply == "no")    # if reply was yes or no 
      if reply == "yes"                     # nested if statement if yes answer == true
        answer = true                       # WHAT??
      else                                  # the else of the second if
        answer = false                      # WHAT?? why do we care about answer??
      end
      break                                 # Breaks the Loop
    else                                    # the else of the 1st if 
      puts ' Please answer "yes" or "no".'
    end
  end
  answer                                    # Why is answer here?
end

My question is why do we need "answer"? I don't see how it is having any impact on the loop. The while loop is set to true not answer.

Upvotes: 1

Views: 133

Answers (2)

Arup Rakshit
Arup Rakshit

Reputation: 118261

end
 answer                                     #Why is answer here?
end

It is there to return the result of answer(either true or false) from the method ask.

My question is why do we need "answer"?

answer is needed as per your example to hold the Boolean value which is to be returned when method execution will be completed. Your while loop is an infinite loop,which can only be broken by the break statement,when reply will be having either 'yes' or 'no' vlaue.

Upvotes: 0

Makoto
Makoto

Reputation: 106410

Ruby returns the last statement it executes. In effect, it's the same as writing

return answer;

...in a language like C or Java.

Upvotes: 4

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