# Object initialization problem **URL:** \ **Category:** ruby-talk\ **Created:** [25 September 2006 14:23 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/object-initialization-problem/31307 "2006-09-25T14:23:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vimal1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a5b964/32.png) [@Vimal1](https://rubytalk.org/u/Vimal1)\ **Post date:** [25 September 2006 14:23 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/object-initialization-problem/31307/1 "2006-09-25T14:23:26Z")
Hi Say I have a Hash, and an instance called wordcount, that maps strings to a number count, that counts the occurance of the word. I do count = Hash.new count[word]++ if count[word] count[word]=1 unless count[word] everytime! Is there a simple way to do it? Thanks 馃檪 Vimal ---
**Author:** ![David\_A\_Black3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@David\_A\_Black3](https://rubytalk.org/u/David_A_Black3)\ **Post date:** [25 September 2006 14:27 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/object-initialization-problem/31307/2 "2006-09-25T14:27:35Z")
Hi -- > Hi > Say I have a Hash, and an instance called wordcount, that maps strings > to a number count, that counts the occurance of the word. > > I do > > count = Hash.new > count[word]++ if count[word] Not in Ruby you don't 馃檪 > count[word]=1 unless count[word] > > everytime! Is there a simple way to do it? You could do:    count = Hash.new(0) # default to 0    count[word] += 1 # each time through loop David > **路路路** > > On Mon, 25 Sep 2006, Vimal wrote: > > -- >                    David A. Black | dblack@wobblini.net > Author of "Ruby for Rails" [1] | Ruby/Rails training & consultancy [3] > DABlog (DAB's Weblog) [2] | Co-director, Ruby Central, Inc. [4] > [1] [Ruby for Rails](http://www.manning.com/black) | [3] [http://www.rubypowerandlight.com](http://www.rubypowerandlight.com) > [2] [http://dablog.rubypal.com](http://dablog.rubypal.com) | [4] [http://www.rubycentral.org](http://www.rubycentral.org) ---
**Author:** ![Jason\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/94ad74/32.png) [@Jason\_R](https://rubytalk.org/u/Jason_R)\ **Post date:** [25 September 2006 14:28 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/object-initialization-problem/31307/3 "2006-09-25T14:28:09Z")
class Hash   def increment\_word\_count(key)      self[key] ||= 1      self[key] += 1   end end count = Hash.new count.increment\_word\_count(word) Of course, if you can think of a better method name, but this will help with DRYness. Jason > **路路路** > > On 9/25/06, Vimal \ wrote: > > > Hi > > Say I have a Hash, and an instance called wordcount, that maps strings > > to a number count, that counts the occurance of the word. > > > > I do > > > > count = Hash.new > > count[word]++ if count[word] > > count[word]=1 unless count[word] > > > > everytime! Is there a simple way to do it? > > > > Thanks 馃檪 > > Vimal ---
**Author:** ![David\_A\_Black3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@David\_A\_Black3](https://rubytalk.org/u/David_A_Black3)\ **Post date:** [25 September 2006 14:33 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/object-initialization-problem/31307/4 "2006-09-25T14:33:16Z")
Hi -- > **路路路** > > On Mon, 25 Sep 2006, Jason Roelofs wrote: > > > class Hash > > def increment\_word\_count(key) > >    self[key] ||= 1 > >    self[key] += 1 > > end > > > > count = Hash.new > > count.increment\_word\_count(word) > > > > Of course, if you can think of a better method name, but this will help with > > DRYness. > > There's also DRR (Don't Repeat Ruby 馃檪 Hashes are already good at > this stuff (see my previous response). > > David > > -- >                    David A. Black | dblack@wobblini.net > Author of "Ruby for Rails" [1] | Ruby/Rails training & consultancy [3] > DABlog (DAB's Weblog) [2] | Co-director, Ruby Central, Inc. [4] > [1] [Ruby for Rails](http://www.manning.com/black) | [3] [http://www.rubypowerandlight.com](http://www.rubypowerandlight.com) > [2] [http://dablog.rubypal.com](http://dablog.rubypal.com) | [4] [http://www.rubycentral.org](http://www.rubycentral.org) ---
**Author:** ![Jason\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/94ad74/32.png) [@Jason\_R](https://rubytalk.org/u/Jason_R)\ **Post date:** [25 September 2006 14:40 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/object-initialization-problem/31307/5 "2006-09-25T14:40:26Z")
Doh! I'm getting caught up in the cooler features of Ruby and forgetting the simple stuff. David's got it right. Jason > **路路路** > > On 9/25/06, dblack@wobblini.net \ wrote: > > > Hi -- > > > > On Mon, 25 Sep 2006, Jason Roelofs wrote: > > > > \> class Hash > > \> def increment\_word\_count(key) > > \> self[key] ||= 1 > > \> self[key] += 1 > > \> end > > \> > > \> count = Hash.new > > \> count.increment\_word\_count(word) > > \> > > \> Of course, if you can think of a better method name, but this will help > > with > > \> DRYness. > > > > There's also DRR (Don't Repeat Ruby 馃檪 Hashes are already good at > > this stuff (see my previous response). > > > > David > > > > -- > >                    David A. Black | dblack@wobblini.net > > Author of "Ruby for Rails" [1] | Ruby/Rails training & consultancy [3] > > DABlog (DAB's Weblog) [2] | Co-director, Ruby Central, Inc. [4] > > [1] [Ruby for Rails](http://www.manning.com/black) | [3] [http://www.rubypowerandlight.com](http://www.rubypowerandlight.com) > > [2] [http://dablog.rubypal.com](http://dablog.rubypal.com) | [4] [http://www.rubycentral.org](http://www.rubycentral.org)