Calculates the set of unique abbreviations for a given set of strings.

require 'abbrev'
require 'pp'

pp Abbrev.abbrev(['ruby', 'rules'])

Generates:

{ "rub"   =>  "ruby",
  "ruby"  =>  "ruby",
  "rul"   =>  "rules",
  "rule"  =>  "rules",
  "rules" =>  "rules" }

It also provides an array core extension, Array#abbrev.

pp %w{summer winter}.abbrev
#=> {"summe"=>"summer",
     "summ"=>"summer",
     "sum"=>"summer",
     "su"=>"summer",
     "s"=>"summer",
     "winte"=>"winter",
     "wint"=>"winter",
     "win"=>"winter",
     "wi"=>"winter",
     "w"=>"winter",
     "summer"=>"summer",
     "winter"=>"winter"}
Show files where this module is defined (1 file)
Register or log in to add new notes.
February 12, 2009
4 thanks

Useful scenario

This can be quite useful, for example when writing a command line script which takes a number of options.

Example

Let’s say you want to make a script that can make the basic CRUD operations. So want to be able to call it like this from the command line:

> my_script create
> my_script delete

The following script allows you to use any abbreviated command as long as it is unambiguous.

# my_script.rb
require 'abbrev'

command = ARGV.first
actions = %w[create read update delete]
mappings = Abbrev::abbrev(actions)
puts mappings[command]

That means you can call it like this:

> my_script cr
> my_script d

And it will print:

create
delete