Undefined method 'to_h' on Ruby array

Question

As per Ruby Array documentation, there is a method to_h which can be used to convert arrays to hash as long as each element of the array is another array of two elements. Example below from the same documentation

p [[:foo, :bar], [1, 2]].to_h

However, when I run the above code, I get this error:

irb(main):001:0> p [[:foo, :bar], [1, 2]].to_h
NoMethodError: undefined method `to_h' for [[:foo, :bar], [1, 2]]:Array
        from (irb):1
        from E:/RubyInstall/bin/irb:12:in `<main>'
irb(main):002:0>

My Ruby version is

C:\>ruby -v
ruby 2.0.0p247 (2013-06-27) [x64-mingw32]

I wanted to use this technique to answer another question on Stackoverflow, but I am stuck now as a documented feature of Ruby is not working for me.

Solution 1

The to_h method is only available in Ruby version 2.1 or higher.

Check the release notes here

http://pivotallabs.com/ruby-2-1-0-changes-of-note/

Solution 2

Yes, it's not supported for lower version than Ruby 2.1, If you are looking for alternative. Try this

keys = [:foo, :bar]
vals = [1, 2]
Hash[*keys.zip(vals).flatten]
 => {:foo=>1, :bar=>2}

Solution 3

The following code will monkey patch Array and provide a to_h method using the code give in @engineersmnky's comment, if to_h isn't already defined - that is, in pre-2.1 ruby environments.

unless [].respond_to? :to_h
  class Array
    def to_h
      Hash[self]
    end
  end
end

Solution 4

Ruby 2.0 doesn't support to_h method. its available in 2.1 and higher

View more solutions

Comments

[Wand Maker]

Thanks. Will upgrade my Ruby. :-)

[ReggieB]

Worth noting that in the Ruby 2.1.0 to_h documentation, [[:foo, :bar], [1, 2]].to_h should result in {:foo => :bar, 1 => 2} ruby-doc.org/core-2.1.0/Array.html#method-i-to_h