Times method for counted repetition in Ruby

Introduction

The times method helps you repeat a task a certain number of times easily, without writing loops manually.

When you want to print a message multiple times.

When you need to run a block of code a fixed number of times.

When you want to create or fill a list with repeated values.

When you want to perform an action for each number from zero up to a limit.

Syntax

Ruby

number.times do |index|
  # code to repeat
end

The number is how many times you want to repeat.

The block between do and end runs each time.

Examples

Prints "Hello" 5 times without using the index.

Ruby

5.times do
  puts "Hello"
end

Prints the count from 0 to 2 using the index i.

Ruby

3.times do |i|
  puts "Count: #{i}"
end

Uses curly braces for a shorter block to print "Ruby" 4 times.

Ruby

4.times { puts "Ruby" }

Sample Program

This program prints "Step number" followed by the step count from 1 to 3.

Ruby

3.times do |i|
  puts "Step number #{i + 1}"
end

Important Notes

The index starts at 0 and goes up to one less than the number.

You can use times with or without the block parameter if you don't need the count.

Summary

times repeats code a set number of times.

Use the block parameter to get the current count starting at zero.

It makes repeating tasks simple and clean without writing loops manually.