Introduction to Ruby

Ruby is a dynamic, object-oriented programming language designed for simplicity and productivity. It has an elegant syntax that is natural to read and easy to write. Ruby is widely used for web development, scripting, and automation.

Key Features of Ruby:

Object-Oriented: Everything in Ruby is an object.
Dynamic Typing: Variables do not require explicit type declarations.
Readable Syntax: Ruby's syntax is clean and intuitive.
Metaprogramming: Ruby allows you to write code that writes code.

Installing Ruby

To get started with Ruby, you need to install it on your computer. You can download Ruby from the official website: Ruby Downloads.

Interactive Ruby (IRB)

Ruby comes with an interactive shell called IRB (Interactive Ruby). You can use it to experiment with Ruby code.


$ irb
irb(main):001:0> puts "Hello, IRB!"
Hello, IRB!
=> nil

Basic Syntax

Ruby's syntax is straightforward and easy to learn. Here are some basic examples:


# Variables
name = "Alice"
age = 25

# Strings
greeting = "Hello, #{name}!"

# Arrays
fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]

# Hashes
person = { name: "Alice", age: 25 }

# Control Structures
if age > 18
  puts "You are an adult."
else
  puts "You are a minor."
end

Variables and Data Types

Ruby supports various data types, including strings, numbers, arrays, and hashes.


# Strings
name = "Alice"

# Numbers
age = 25
pi = 3.14159

# Arrays
fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]

# Hashes
person = { name: "Alice", age: 25 }

Best Practices

Use Descriptive Variable Names: Choose meaningful names for variables and methods.
Follow Conventions: Adhere to Ruby's naming conventions, such as using snake_case for variables and methods.
Write Readable Code: Keep your code clean and easy to understand.
Use Comments: Add comments to explain complex logic or important details.

Next: Variables and Data Types