Keyword Arguments make building and maintaining Ruby methods easier and clearer than normal method declaration.

Keyword Arguments in Ruby is one of the good things that my colleages tend to ignore by not using it. Despite that it doesn’t have any proper downside of using it and come with many good points.

It make method clearer at first glance.

This is obvious. I don’t have to look for source of method when I see the method being called at other places.

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# normal initializer
class Post
  def initialize(subject, body)
    @subject = subject
    @body = body
  end
end

# you will have to find the above Class to understand just this line.
Post.new('hello', 'this is a msg')

compare to how Keyword Arguments work

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# initializer with keywords
class Post
  def initialize(subject:, body:)
    @subject = subject
    @body = body
  end
end

# likely to understand the basic functionality at firstglance
Post.new(subject: 'hello',
         body: 'this is a msg',
        )

 

Better understanding error message.

Keyword Arguments methods provide better error message when thing gone wrong.

# Post.new('hello')
ArgumentError: wrong number of arguments(given 1, expected 2)

# Post.new(title: 'hello')
ArgumentError: missing keyword: body

 

Default setter and required key

This is indeed useful, for you can quickly look at given params and understand what needs to be done almost immediately.

class Post
  # default setter for :title to be 'untitled' if nil
  # required key :body if leave the setter blank.
  def initialize(title: 'untitled', body:)
    @title = title
    @body = body
  end
end)