method
last_match
last_match(p1 = v1)
public
The first form returns the MatchData object generated by the last successful pattern match. Equivalent to reading the global variable $~. The second form returns the nth field in this MatchData object. n can be a string or symbol to reference a named capture.
Note that the last_match is local to the thread and method scope of the method that did the pattern match.
/c(.)t/ =~ 'cat' #=> 0 Regexp.last_match #=> #<MatchData "cat" 1:"a"> Regexp.last_match(0) #=> "cat" Regexp.last_match(1) #=> "a" Regexp.last_match(2) #=> nil /(?<lhs>\w+)\s*=\s*(?<rhs>\w+)/ =~ "var = val" Regexp.last_match #=> #<MatchData "var = val" lhs:"var" rhs:"val"> Regexp.last_match(:lhs) #=> "var" Regexp.last_match(:rhs) #=> "val"