Ruby Hashes

Basics:

• Ruby hashes are comparable to Javascript objects or dictionaries in languages like Python.
• Hashes contain items that are stored by key: value pairs.
• Ruby hashes can be created using the following methods:
  • my_hash = {}
  • my_hash = Hash.new
• There are many methods built into Ruby to find information from and update hashes.

Examples:

my_hash = {'name' => 'Batman', 'age' => 25}
# is equivalent to:
my_hash = Hash.new
my_hash['name'] = 'Batman'
my_hash['age'] = 25
# Both of these examples return:
{"name"=>"Batman", "age"=>25}

# here is an alternative way to create the array:
{name: 'Batman', age: 25}
# this example return:
{:name=>"Batman", :age=>25}
# learn more about [symbols here](http://www.randomhacks.net/2007/01/20/13-ways-of-looking-at-a-ruby-symbol/)

References:

• The official Ruby documentation for hashes.

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