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12,129 PointsI found the is_nil? method to be inadequate, so I replaced it with this
The is_nil? method has its place, but coming from other programming languages where there is a broader range of functionality associated with the nil/null/0 value, I wrote a more helpful method called is_conv_to_nil? (which stands for, is convertible to nil). In the next thread, I will show you how I use this function to overcome one of the problems I don't like with Ruby.
So, here is the is_conv_to_nil? method...Enjoy!
def is_conv_to_nil?(obj)
if (obj == false || obj.class == NilClass)
return true
end
if (obj.is_a?(Numeric))
begin
return (obj.to_f == 0.0 && obj.to_i == 0)
rescue
return false
end
end
if (obj.is_a?(String))
return (obj.to_s == "")
end
begin
return (obj.count == 0)
rescue
return false
end
end