Ruby dig set - Assign values using Hash#dig

Question

Basically I want to assign an array using #dig.

My has has to be like this:

hash = {
   :first => {
      :second => [1,2,3,4]
  }
}

and I would use Hash#dig

hash.dig(:first, :second) = [1,2,3,4]

How can I assign this value?

Answer 1

You can create a hash that behaves like what you want. Hash.new takes a block which is invoked whenever a key lookup fails. We can create an empty hash when that happens:

hash = Hash.new { |hash, key| hash[key] = Hash.new(&hash.default_proc) }

hash[:first][:second] = [1, 2, 3, 4]

hash # => {:first=>{:second=>[1, 2, 3, 4]}}

Note though that merely accessing an inexistent key will result in the creation of a new hash:

hash.dig(:a, :b, :c) # => {}

hash # => {:first=>{:second=>[1, 2, 3, 4]}, :a=>{:b=>{:c=>{}}}}

hash[:foo].nil? # => false

Answer 2

I've assumed that the answer to the question I raised in a comment on the question is "yes".

One could use Enumerable#reduce (a.k.a. inject):

def undig(*keys, value)
  keys[0..-2].reverse_each.reduce (keys.last=>value) { |h,key| { key=>h } }   
end

undig(:first, :second, [1,2,3,4])
  #=> {:first=>{:second=>[1, 2, 3, 4]}} 

or recursion:

def undig(*keys, value)
  keys.empty? ? value : { keys.first=>undig(*keys.drop(1), value) }
end

undig(:first, :second, [1,2,3,4])
  #=> {:first=>{:second=>[1, 2, 3, 4]}}