Kernel#print

print(*objects) -> nil

print is a Kernel method that writes one or more objects to standard output (stdout) without appending a newline character. Unlike puts, it keeps the cursor on the same line, allowing you to build up output incrementally.

Syntax

print obj
print obj1, obj2, obj3
print *objects

Parameters

Parameter	Description
*objects	One or more objects to output. Each object is converted to a string using to_s and written without a trailing newline.

Examples

Basic Usage

print "Hello"
print "World"
# HelloWorld

With Newline (combined with puts)

print "Enter your name: "
name = gets.chomp
puts "Hello, #{name}!"

Multiple Objects

print "Name: ", "Alice", " | Age: ", 30
# Name: Alice | Age: 30

In Loops

5.times do |i|
  print "#{i+1}... "
end
puts "Done!"
# 1... 2... 3... 4... 5... Done!

Progress Indicators

10.times do |i|
  sleep 0.1
  print "\rProcessing: #{((i+1)*10)}%"
end
puts "\rCompleted!     "

Common Patterns

User Input Prompts

print "What is your name? "
name = gets
puts "Hello, #{name}!"

Building Strings

result = ""
[1, 2, 3].each do |num|
  result += print(num, " ") || ""
end
puts result

Formatted Output Without Newlines

printf "Value: %.2f\n", 3.14159
# Value: 3.14

Differences from Similar Methods

Method	Newline	Return Value	Special Behavior
print	No	nil	No newline
puts	Yes	nil	Adds newline after each object
p	Yes	The object(s)	Uses inspect instead of to_s
printf	No	nil	Formatted output (C-style)

print vs puts

print "Hello"
print "World"
# HelloWorld

puts "Hello"
puts "World"
# Hello
# World

print vs printf

print "Pi is approximately ", 3.14159, "\n"
# Pi is approximately 3.14159

printf "Pi is approximately %.3f\n", 3.14159
# Pi is approximately 3.141

Errors

print itself rarely raises errors. However, if stdout is closed or not available, you may get an IOError:

$stdout.close
print "hello"  # => IOError: closed stream

See Also

• Kernel#puts
• Kernel#printf
• Kernel#sprintf