I initialize an array this way:
array = Array.new
array << '1' << '2' << '3'
Is it possible to do that in one step? If so, how?
You can use an array literal:
array = [ '1', '2', '3' ]
You can also use a range:
array = ('1'..'3').to_a # parentheses are required
# or
array = *('1'..'3') # parentheses not required, but included for clarity
For arrays of whitespace-delimited strings, you can use Percent String syntax:
array = %w[ 1 2 3 ]
You can also pass a block to Array.new
to determine what the value for each entry will be:
array = Array.new(3) { |i| (i+1).to_s }
Finally, although it doesn't produce the same array of three strings as the other answers above, note also that you can use enumerators in Ruby 1.8.7+ to create arrays; for example:
array = 1.step(17,3).to_a
#=> [1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16]