From: Alex Young <alex@...>
Date: 2012-03-21T19:49:18+09:00
Subject: [ruby-core:43524] Re: [ruby-trunk - Feature #6180] to_b for converting objects to a boolean value

On 21/03/12 01:44, trans (Thomas Sawyer) wrote:
>
> Issue #6180 has been updated by trans (Thomas Sawyer).
>
>
> Also, what you are asking for should probably be called #to_bool.
>
> Where as #to_b can have a broader, and generally more useful definition, e.g.
>
>    "true".to_b  #=>  true
>    "yes".to_b   #=>  true
>    "on".to_b    #=>  true
>
>    1.to_b  #=>  true
>    0.to_b  #=>  false
>
> and other such useful humanistic forms of expressing truth.
>

This would be most useful as a protocol for `if` statements so that 
classes could define their own notion of falsity.  This is not 
dissimilar to my null proposal from a few months back.

-- 
Alex


>
> ----------------------------------------
> Feature #6180: to_b for converting objects to a boolean value
> https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/6180#change-24992
>
> Author: AaronLasseigne (Aaron Lasseigne)
> Status: Open
> Priority: Normal
> Assignee:
> Category:
> Target version:
>
>
> When a boolean return value is required it has become common practice is to use "!!" to convert the object. It would be more consistent to provide a "to_b" method on Object.
>
>