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Ruby Output

Output is what a program prints. puts, print and p print in three different ways.

puts ends the line

puts adds a newline after Ana. Mina starts on a new line.

puts "Ana"
puts "Mina"

print stays on the line

print adds no newline after Ana. Mina prints right after it on the same line.

print "Ana"
print "Mina"

p shows the inspected form

The inspected form shows a value as it is written in code. The text Ana keeps its quotes in this form, and the number 42 stays plain.

p "Ana"
p 42

nil two ways

puts prints nil as an empty line. p prints nil as the word nil.

puts nil
p nil

An array two ways

An array is a list of values in square brackets. puts prints one item per line, and p prints the array as one value.

puts [1, 2, 3]
p [1, 2, 3]

Example

puts "First"
print "Second "
puts "Third"
p "Fourth"

Key points

  • puts adds a newline after the value it prints.
  • print prints a value with no newline after it.
  • p prints a value in its inspected form.
  • A String keeps its quotes in its inspected form.
  • puts prints nil as an empty line.
  • p prints nil as the word nil.
  • puts prints each item of an array on its own line.

In this example, puts prints First on its own line. print prints Second with no newline, so the puts line prints Third on that same line. p then prints Fourth in its inspected form, with quotes.

Note

Most programs in this course print with puts.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Programiz Ruby Compiler

Exercise

Which word prints a value with no newline after it?