Oversolving Archive Pages Categories Tags

Ruby to_i considered harmful - what to do instead

18 December 2013

I recommend using to_f.round instead of to_i any day of the week.

>> '1.5'.to_i
=> 1
>> '1.5'.to_f.round
=> 2   # arguably better

Even stronger evidence:

>> '1.5e3'.to_i
=> 1
>> '1.5e3'.to_f.round
=> 1500 # incontrovertibly better

I think a lot of Rubyists were introduced to to_i from DHH’s slug hack involving redefining Post#to_param ("15-hello-world".to_i #=> 15), but I just don’t see many other uses for to_i.

Ruby to_i considered harmful - what to do instead

Related Posts