Array#last

arr.last(n=nil) -> obj or array

Array#last retrieves the last element from an array. It provides a clean, readable way to access elements without using index notation.

Syntax

arr.last      # returns last element
arr.last(n)   # returns last n elements as array

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
n	Integer	nil	When provided, returns an array of the last n elements instead of a single element

Examples

Basic usage

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry", "date"]

# Get the last element
fruits.last
# => "date"

# Get last n elements
fruits.last(2)
# => ["cherry", "date"]

With empty arrays

empty = []

# Single element returns nil on empty array
empty.last
# => nil

# With n parameter returns empty array
empty.last(3)
# => []

With various data types

# Works with any object types
mixed = [42, "hello", :symbol, [1, 2], { key: "value" }]

mixed.last
# => {:key=>"value"}

mixed.last(3)
# => ["hello", :symbol, {:key=>"value"}]

Common Patterns

Check if array has elements

# Common pattern: check presence before accessing
if array.any?
  last_item = array.last
end

Get extremes of sorted data

# Often used with sorted data
scores = [95, 87, 92, 88, 79, 91]

# Or using last after sorting
sorted = scores.sort
highest = sorted.last

Preview large datasets

# Preview last items without loading entire dataset
logs = ["2024-01-01", "2024-01-02", "2024-01-03", "2024-01-04", "2024-01-05"]

puts "Last 3 entries:"
logs.last(3).each { |log| puts "  #{log}" }

Stack operations

# Last element often serves as stack top
stack = ["a", "b", "c"]
top = stack.last
# => "c"

Error Cases

This method never raises exceptions. The behavior with empty arrays is well-defined:

# Single element access returns nil
[].last   # => nil

# With n parameter returns empty array
[].last(5)  # => []

# n greater than array length returns all elements
[1, 2].last(10)
# => [1, 2]

See Also

• Array#append
• Array#prepend
• Array#pop