Type conversion with leading zeros in Ruby

Question

1.9.3-p551 :016 > 00232.to_i
=> 154 
1.9.3-p551 :017 > 0023.to_i
=> 19 
1.9.3-p551 :024 > 23.to_i
=> 23

conversion of number with leading zeros to integer type gives undesirable results. Couldn't able to figure out the reason?. Please advise

Numbers starting with '0' are considered to be octal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octal — Jagdeep Singh, Mar 29 '18 at 06:40
It has nothing to do with the conversion – `00232` (without `to_i`) already produces `154`. — Stefan, Mar 29 '18 at 13:49

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 29 '18 at 06:45

4

Drop the initial zero as it is for representational purpose in Octal numbers.

> 00232.to_i
=> 154     # (2 * (8**0)) + (3 * (8**1)) + (2 * (8**2)) + (0 * (8**3))
           # 2 + 24 + 128
           # => 154

Similarly for others.

> 0023.to_i
=> 19      # (3 * (8**0)) + (2 * (8**1)) + (0 * (8**2))
           # 3 + 16 + 0
           # => 19

answered Mar 29 '18 at 06:45

Jagdeep Singh

2

Or convert it to a string and add the base: $> "0023".to_i(10) # 23 $> "0023.to_i(8) # 8 – DannielR Mar 29 '18 at 06:47

Ashik Salman · Answer 2 · 2018-03-29T06:56:08.953

0

Ruby treats the number as octal(base 8) number if it has leading zeros.

To get the decimal number equivalent, convert it to string before converting it to integer.

023.to_s(8).to_i
=> 23

edited Mar 29 '18 at 06:56

answered Mar 29 '18 at 06:47

Ashik Salman

2 Answers2