Variables in Ruby

In this tutorial, we will learn about variables in Ruby. We will cover the basics of declaring and using variables, including naming conventions.

What are Variables

Variables in Ruby are used to store data values that can be manipulated during program execution. Ruby is a dynamically typed language, meaning the data type of a variable can change at runtime.

Syntax

The syntax to declare variables in Ruby is:

variable_name = value

Rules for Naming Variables

When naming variables in Ruby, follow these conventions:

  • Variable names must start with a lowercase letter or an underscore (_).
  • Subsequent characters can include letters, digits, and underscores.
  • Variable names are case-sensitive.
  • Avoid using reserved keywords as variable names.
  • Use snake_case naming convention for readability.

Example 1: Variable storing Integer Value

In Ruby, we can store an integer value in a variable.

For example,

  1. Declare a variable named num.
  2. Assign a value of 10 to the variable using assignment operator =.
  3. Print the value of the variable using puts method.

Ruby Program

# Declare and initialize an integer variable
num = 10
# Print the value of the variable
puts "The value of num is: #{num}"

Output

The value of num is: 10

Example 2: Variable storing String Value

In Ruby, we can store a string value in a variable.

For example,

  1. Declare a variable named name.
  2. Assign the string value 'Arjun' to the variable using assignment operator =.
  3. Print the value of the variable using puts method.

Ruby Program

# Declare and initialize a string variable
name = 'Arjun'
# Print the value of the variable
puts "The value of name is: #{name}"

Output

The value of name is: Arjun

Example 3: Variable storing Boolean Value

In Ruby, we can store a boolean value in a variable.

For example,

  1. Declare a variable named is_true.
  2. Assign the boolean value true to the variable.
  3. Print the value of the variable using puts method.

Ruby Program

# Declare and initialize a boolean variable
is_true = true
# Print the value of the variable
puts "The value of is_true is: #{is_true}"

Output

The value of is_true is: true