Method: Array#insert

Defined in:
array.c

#insert(index, *objects) ⇒ self

Inserts the given objects as elements of self; returns self.

When index is non-negative, inserts objects before the element at offset index:

a = ['a', 'b', 'c']     # => ["a", "b", "c"]
a.insert(1, :x, :y, :z) # => ["a", :x, :y, :z, "b", "c"]

Extends the array if index is beyond the array (index >= self.size):

a = ['a', 'b', 'c']     # => ["a", "b", "c"]
a.insert(5, :x, :y, :z) # => ["a", "b", "c", nil, nil, :x, :y, :z]

When index is negative, inserts objects after the element at offset index + self.size:

a = ['a', 'b', 'c']      # => ["a", "b", "c"]
a.insert(-2, :x, :y, :z) # => ["a", "b", :x, :y, :z, "c"]

With no objects given, does nothing:

a = ['a', 'b', 'c'] # => ["a", "b", "c"]
a.insert(1)         # => ["a", "b", "c"]
a.insert(50)        # => ["a", "b", "c"]
a.insert(-50)       # => ["a", "b", "c"]

Raises IndexError if objects are given and index is negative and out of range.

Related: see Methods for Assigning.

Returns:

  • (self) 


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# File 'array.c', line 2554

static VALUE
rb_ary_insert(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE ary)
{
    long pos;

    rb_check_arity(argc, 1, UNLIMITED_ARGUMENTS);
    rb_ary_modify_check(ary);
    pos = NUM2LONG(argv[0]);
    if (argc == 1) return ary;
    if (pos == -1) {
        pos = RARRAY_LEN(ary);
    }
    else if (pos < 0) {
        long minpos = -RARRAY_LEN(ary) - 1;
        if (pos < minpos) {
            rb_raise(rb_eIndexError, "index %ld too small for array; minimum: %ld",
                     pos, minpos);
        }
        pos++;
    }
    rb_ary_splice(ary, pos, 0, argv + 1, argc - 1);
    return ary;
}