Question

temp = 98.3 begin   print 'Your temperature is ' + temp.to_s + ' Fahrenheit. '   puts 'I think you're okay.'   temp += 0.1 end while temp < 98.6 

In the above example, is everything between begin and end a block?

I’m still confused what a block is.

If you can’t call it a block, what would you call that chunk of code between begin and end? Is it ok to call it a chunk?

Answer 1

Block has a special meaning in Ruby. According to Matz, Ruby’s creator, you can look at a block as a nameless function – typically something that can be yielded into, and which may also take parameters.

You may see the following kind of disamiguation when describing Ruby syntax:

• begin…end (what is called block in other languages) may sometimes be referred to simply as what it is, i.e. an expression (which may in turn contain other expressions – an expression is simply something that has a return value) in Ruby. Some references will still call it a begin/end block, or a code block, adding somewhat to the confusion
• do…end or {...} will always be referred to as a block in Ruby

For examples, peruse the the Ruby syntax man page, e.g.

begin expression end
expression while expression
loop block

For further reading, see:

• Programming Ruby
• Ruby (from other languages)
• Much, much more documentation