The Difference Between `puts` and `print` in Ruby

Introduction

When working with Ruby, you may come across two commonly used methods for outputting text: `puts` and `print`. While both methods serve the purpose of displaying text to the console, there are some key differences between the two that are important to understand. In this article, we will explore the differences between `puts` and `print` in Ruby.

Understanding `puts`

The `puts` method in Ruby is used to output text to the console with a newline character at the end. This means that each time you use `puts` to display text, the cursor will move to the next line after the text is displayed. Let's take a look at an example:

puts "Hello, World!"
puts "This is a new line."

When you run the above code, you will see the following output:

Hello, World!
This is a new line.

Benefits of `puts`

Automatically adds a newline character at the end
Easy to read and understand

Understanding `print`

The `print` method in Ruby is similar to `puts`, but it does not add a newline character at the end. This means that text displayed using `print` will appear on the same line without moving to the next line. Let's see an example:

print "Hello, "
print "World!"

When you run the above code, you will see the following output:

Hello, World!

Benefits of `print`

Does not add a newline character, useful for displaying text on the same line
Useful for formatting output in a specific way

Choosing Between `puts` and `print`

When deciding between using `puts` and `print` in your Ruby code, consider the following factors:

If you want each output to appear on a new line, use `puts`
If you want to display text on the same line without moving to the next line, use `print`
Consider the formatting and readability of your output

Conclusion

In conclusion, the `puts` and `print` methods in Ruby are both useful for displaying text to the console, but they have distinct differences in terms of newline characters and formatting. By understanding when to use `puts` and `print`, you can effectively control the output of your Ruby code. Experiment with both methods to see which one best suits your needs!