# Arrays can be done anonymously
a = [1,2,3,4]
b = ["one",2,"3",4]

puts a

b.each { | it |
  puts it
}

# or not. They size dynamically.
a = Array.new
a[0] = "this"
a[1] = "is"
a[2] = "my"
a[3] = "message"
puts a

# incidentally, yet another alternative to anonymous arrays for the above is
a = %w{ this is my message }
puts a

# Hashes are similar.
h = {
  "first"  =>   "Ross",
  "last"   =>   "Bamford",
  "job"    =>   "jobless drifter"
}

puts h['first'] + " " + h['last'] + " is a " + h['job']

# By default a Hash returns nil for a non-existent key
h = Hash.new
if h['dunno'] == nil
  puts "It's nil!"
else 
  puts "It's not! It's #{h['dunno']}"
end 

# Sometimes it's more convenient to have it return something else, like zero
# if using the hash to count occurences, or whatever.
h = Hash.new("dunno mate")
h['ross'] = "Bamford"
h['rosie'] = "Randall"

puts h['ross']      # Bamford
puts h['rosie']     # Randall
puts h['john']      # dunno mate