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instance method

Numeric#step

(?::Numeric limit, ?::Numeric step) { (::Numeric) -> void } -> self
(?::Numeric limit, ?::Numeric step) -> ::Enumerator[::Numeric, self]
(?by: ::Numeric, ?to: ::Numeric) { (::Numeric) -> void } -> self
(?by: ::Numeric, ?to: ::Numeric) -> ::Enumerator[::Numeric, self]
step(to = nil, by = 1) {|n| ... } → self
step(to = nil, by = 1) → enumerator
step(to = nil, by: 1) {|n| ... } → self
step(to = nil, by: 1) → enumerator
step(by: 1, to: ) {|n| ... } → self
step(by: 1, to: ) → enumerator
step(by: , to: nil) {|n| ... } → self
step(by: , to: nil) → enumerator

Generates a sequence of numbers; with a block given, traverses the sequence.

Of the Core and Standard Library classes, Integer, Float, and Rational use this implementation.

A quick example:

Example
squares = []
1.step(by: 2, to: 10) {|i| squares.push(i*i) }
squares # => [1, 9, 25, 49, 81]

The generated sequence:

  • Begins with self.

  • Continues at intervals of by (which may not be zero).

  • Ends with the last number that is within or equal to to; that is, less than or equal to to if by is positive, greater than or equal to to if by is negative. If to is nil, the sequence is of infinite length.

If a block is given, calls the block with each number in the sequence; returns self. If no block is given, returns an Enumerator::ArithmeticSequence.

Keyword Arguments

With keyword arguments by and to, their values (or defaults) determine the step and limit:

Example
# Both keywords given.
squares = []
4.step(by: 2, to: 10) {|i| squares.push(i*i) }    # => 4
squares # => [16, 36, 64, 100]
cubes = []
3.step(by: -1.5, to: -3) {|i| cubes.push(i*i*i) } # => 3
cubes   # => [27.0, 3.375, 0.0, -3.375, -27.0]
squares = []
1.2.step(by: 0.2, to: 2.0) {|f| squares.push(f*f) }
squares # => [1.44, 1.9599999999999997, 2.5600000000000005, 3.24, 4.0]

squares = []
Rational(6/5).step(by: 0.2, to: 2.0) {|r| squares.push(r*r) }
squares # => [1.0, 1.44, 1.9599999999999997, 2.5600000000000005, 3.24, 4.0]

# Only keyword to given.
squares = []
4.step(to: 10) {|i| squares.push(i*i) }           # => 4
squares # => [16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100]
# Only by given.

# Only keyword by given
squares = []
4.step(by:2) {|i| squares.push(i*i); break if i > 10 }
squares # => [16, 36, 64, 100, 144]

# No block given.
e = 3.step(by: -1.5, to: -3) # => (3.step(by: -1.5, to: -3))
e.class                      # => Enumerator::ArithmeticSequence

Positional Arguments

With optional positional arguments to and by, their values (or defaults) determine the step and limit:

Example
squares = []
4.step(10, 2) {|i| squares.push(i*i) }    # => 4
squares # => [16, 36, 64, 100]
squares = []
4.step(10) {|i| squares.push(i*i) }
squares # => [16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100]
squares = []
4.step {|i| squares.push(i*i); break if i > 10 }  # => nil
squares # => [16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121]

Implementation Notes

If all the arguments are integers, the loop operates using an integer counter.

If any of the arguments are floating point numbers, all are converted to floats, and the loop is executed floor(n + n*Float::EPSILON) + 1 times, where n = (limit - self)/step.

See also #round #to_c #remainder #to_int also in 4.1 · 4.0 · 3.3 · 3.2 · 3.1 · 3.0