What are local variables in Ruby?

What are local variables in Ruby?

Local variables in Ruby are variables that are defined within a method or block and are only accessible within that scope.

Can you give me an example of a local variable?

Sure! Here's an example:

def my_method
  local_var = 10
  puts local_var
end
my_method  # This will output 10
puts local_var  # This will raise an error because local_var is not accessible here.

What happens if I try to access a local variable outside its scope?

If you try to access a local variable outside its scope, Ruby will raise a NameError, indicating that the variable is undefined.

Are there any best practices for using local variables?

Yes! It's best to use descriptive names for local variables, keep their scope limited, and avoid using the same name in nested scopes to prevent confusion.