Ruby Language Arrays Accessing elements
Example
You can access the elements of an array by their indices.
Array index numbering starts at 0.
%w(a b c)[0] # => 'a'
%w(a b c)[1] # => 'b'
You can crop an array using range
%w(a b c d)[1..2] # => ['b', 'c'] (indices from 1 to 2, including the 2)
%w(a b c d)[1...2] # => ['b'] (indices from 1 to 2, excluding the 2)
This returns a new array, but doesn't affect the original. Ruby also supports the use of negative indices.
%w(a b c)[-1] # => 'c'
%w(a b c)[-2] # => 'b'
You can combine negative and positive indices as well
%w(a b c d e)[1...-1] # => ['b', 'c', 'd']
Other useful methods
Use first to access the first element in an array:
[1, 2, 3, 4].first # => 1
Or first(n) to access the first n elements returned in an array:
[1, 2, 3, 4].first(2) # => [1, 2]
Similarly for last and last(n):
[1, 2, 3, 4].last # => 4
[1, 2, 3, 4].last(2) # => [3, 4]
Use sample to access a random element in a array:
[1, 2, 3, 4].sample # => 3
[1, 2, 3, 4].sample # => 1
Or sample(n):
[1, 2, 3, 4].sample(2) # => [2, 1]
[1, 2, 3, 4].sample(2) # => [3, 4]
