# A very basic question **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [June 15, 2006, 11:21am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/a-very-basic-question/63453 "2006-06-15T11:21:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tanushree_B)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 11:21am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/a-very-basic-question/63453/1 "2006-06-15T11:21:43Z")
Hi…plz reply to this very basic question. What is the syntax(function) for taking user input(numbers not strings ) in ruby. Thanks in advance. Tanushree ---
**Author:** ![Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tanushree_B)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 12:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/a-very-basic-question/63453/2 "2006-06-15T12:02:30Z")
On 15/06/06, Tanushree B. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > What is the syntax(function) for taking user input(numbers not strings ) in > ruby. gets() returns Strings because that’s how console i/o works, but you can convert that to an number with String#to\_i . ---
**Author:** ![Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tanushree_B)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/a-very-basic-question/63453/3 "2006-06-15T13:22:29Z")
irb\> irb(main):001:0\> require ‘scanf’ =\> true irb(main):004:0\> scanf("%d %s") 1 lemon =\> [1, “lemon”] ---
**Author:** ![Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tanushree_B)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 12:11pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/a-very-basic-question/63453/4 "2006-06-15T12:11:52Z")
Thanks Dick. ---
**Author:** ![Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tanushree_B)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/a-very-basic-question/63453/5 "2006-06-15T15:07:05Z")
Thanks Joey for your reply. But when i am writting like this in my ruby irb. scanf("%d %s") its not responding.For require ‘scanf’ its giving ‘true’. I am using ruby 184-16. Thanks Tanushree ---
**Author:** ![Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tanushree_B)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/a-very-basic-question/63453/6 "2006-06-15T15:19:52Z")
Yeah i know that Matthe. I am entering values. ---
**Author:** ![Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tanushree_B)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/a-very-basic-question/63453/7 "2006-06-15T15:16:25Z")
On Jun 15, 2006, at 14:06, Tanushree B. wrote: > Thanks Joey for your reply. > But when i am writting like this in my ruby irb. > scanf("%d %s") > its not responding. It’s an input method - are you entering anything? matthew smillie. ---
**Author:** ![Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@Tanushree\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tanushree_B)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/a-very-basic-question/63453/8 "2006-06-15T17:20:24Z")
> -----Original Message----- > From: Tanushree B. [[mailto:removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)] > > > > But when i am writting like this in my ruby irb. > > > scanf(“%d %s”) > > > its not responding. > > > > On 6/15/06, Matthew S. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > > It’s an input method - are you entering anything? > > […] > > Yeah i know that Matthe. > > I am entering values. OK, now try hitting ‘enter’. ben