How to convert a string to a hash in Ruby on Rails without using eval? [duplicate]

Question

Here is the string which needs to convert into a hash.

"{:status => {:label => 'Status', :collection => return_misc_definitions('project_status') } }"

We can not use eval because eval will execute the method return_misc_definitions('project_status') in the string. Is there pure string operation to accomplish this conversion in Ruby/Rails?

Answer 1

As mentioned earlier, you should use eval. Your point about eval executing return_misc_definitions doesn't make sense. It will be executed either way.

h1 = {:status => {:label => 'Status', :collection => return_misc_definitions('project_status') } }
# or 
h2 = eval("{:status => {:label => 'Status', :collection => return_misc_definitions('project_status') } }")

There's no functional difference between these two lines, they produce exactly the same result.

h1 == h2 # => true

Of course, if you can, don't use string represenstation of ruby hashes. Use JSON or YAML. They're much safer (don't require eval).