\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [July 26, 2007, 6:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/rhtml-output/110481 "2007-07-26T18:27:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1
**Author:**  [@ricklach](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ricklach)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 6:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/rhtml-output/110481/1 "2007-07-26T18:27:26Z")
Just a simple question. I know what this does" \<%= %\> for output but
what is the purpose of the negative sign in this \<%= -%\> in a rhtml
template?
---
**Author:**  [@ricklach](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ricklach)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 6:32pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/rhtml-output/110481/2 "2007-07-26T18:32:00Z")
On Jul 26, 12:27 pm, Rick L. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)
wrote:
> Just a simple question. I know what this does" \<%= %\> for output but
> what is the purpose of the negative sign in this \<%= -%\> in a rhtml
> template?
Doesn’t “-” suppress newlines?
---
**Author:**  [@ricklach](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ricklach)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/rhtml-output/110481/3 "2007-07-26T18:36:01Z")
> On Jul 26, 12:27 pm, Rick L. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)
> wrote:
>
> > Just a simple question. I know what this does" \<%= %\> for output but
> > what is the purpose of the negative sign in this \<%= -%\> in a rhtml
> > template?
>
> Doesn’t “-” suppress newlines?
Yes.
---
**Author:**  [@ricklach](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ricklach)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 6:37pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/rhtml-output/110481/4 "2007-07-26T18:37:01Z")
On Thu, 26 Jul 2007, Eno wrote:
> On Jul 26, 12:27 pm, Rick L. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)
> wrote:
>
> > Just a simple question. I know what this does" \<%= %\> for output but
> > what is the purpose of the negative sign in this \<%= -%\> in a rhtml
> > template?
>
> Doesn’t “-” suppress newlines?
Yes, within Rails. IIRC erb/eruby doesn’t make use of this outside
Rails.
```
HTH
Hugh
```