# Nil? takes much time

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/nil-takes-much-time/94295>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [April 28, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/nil-takes-much-time/94295 "2006-04-28T00:52:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![victor123789](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/f0a364/32.png) [@victor123789](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/victor123789)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/nil-takes-much-time/94295/1 "2006-04-28T00:52:24Z")

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Hello all.

In one my class I’ve had very simple method:

…  
def stored?  
!@db.nil?  
end  
…

And I’ve suddenly noticed (due to profile) that nil? Takes a significant  
amount of time here.

Redefining the above method like

def stored?  
@db  
end

(in if’s it works good) speedups the entire program.

I’m a bit surprized 🙂

Victor.