5. Iterating Over The Array. Can someone explain the .each variable?

#1



https://www.codecademy.com/en/courses/ruby-beginner-en-693PD/0/5?curriculum_id=5059f8619189a5000201fbcb

My code doesn't behave incorrectly. I'd just like some clarification with the following piece of code:

words = text.split (" ")

frequencies = Hash.new(0)

words.each { |x|
    x = frequencies[x] += 1
}

words = text.split: This line splits the inputted text at the spaces. I get that.

frequencies: creates a new hash with default value of 0 for any key. Got it.

words.each: This is my problematic part. I'm confused about my variable.
Question 1: The x IS a variable, right?
Question 2: Are these lines saying "Assign each word from variable words to x. Then take x, which is each word, and assign it to a key in the hash named frequencies and add 1 to it's default value."

I hope I explained my questions clearly. If not please let me know and I'll try to clarify. Thanks.

#2

In words.each, the variable words. is an array object, with a class method, each that permits iteration of the array, one element at a time. x is the block parameter, a variable, yes.

Think in terms of a for..in loop,

for key in object

where key is the x in your block. We do not manually assign values to this variable as it is an internally managed object. So,

words.each { |x| frequencies[x] += 1 }

Essentially, yes. If the key does not exist, it is created with a default value of 0, then accumulated by 1. If it does exist, that key continues to accumulate.

#5

How does the following command

words.each { |x| frequencies[x] += 1 }

know to group identical words together, and add 1 every time it encounters an identical word?

For example, "=" is used to assign things to variables, "gets" is used to get input from the user. I understand that each of these has a defined function. I don't understand how simply putting "frequencies|x| += 1" tells it to assign each word to a key, to group identical words, and to add 1 to the default value for each identical word. If my words array was [cat, cat, dog, dog, dog, mouse], why wouldn't the frequencies hash be:
cat 1
cat 1
dog 1
dog 1
dog 1
mouse 1
?
Thank you!

#6

By not grouping. It simply runs a count on a word, which word is the hash key.

#7

How does it know to display each word once? Or is that something built into that code?

Going back to the animals example, why is the output
cat 2
dog 3
mouse 1

Rather than
cat 1
cat 1
dog 1
dog 1
dog 1
mouse 1
?

Thanks!

#8

When a new word is found, a new key is created in the hash, given a default value of 0, then increased by 1. If a key already exists, it will be found, rather than created, and its value increased by 1.