tutorial - Documentation for Ruby 3.3

## Tutorial¶ ↑

### Why `OptionParser`?¶ ↑

When a Ruby program executes, it captures its command-line arguments and options into variable ARGV. This simple program just prints its `ARGV`:

    p ARGV

Execution, with arguments and options:

    $ ruby argv.rb foo --bar --baz bat bam
    ["foo", "--bar", "--baz", "bat", "bam"]

The executing program is responsible for parsing and handling the command-line options.

`OptionParser` offers methods for parsing and handling those options.

With `OptionParser`, you can define options so that for each option:

- The code that defines the option and code that handles that option are in the same place.

- The option may take no argument, a required argument, or an optional argument.

- The argument may be automatically converted to a specified class.

- The argument may be restricted to specified forms.

- The argument may be restricted to specified values.

The class also has method help, which displays automatically-generated help text.

### Contents¶ ↑

- To Begin With

- Defining Options

- Option Names

  - Short Option Names

  - Long Option Names

  - Mixing Option Names

  - Option Name Abbreviations

- Option Arguments

  - Option with No Argument

  - Option with Required Argument

  - Option with Optional Argument

  - Argument Abbreviations

- Argument Values

  - Explicit Argument Values

    - Explicit Values in Array

    - Explicit Values in Hash

  - Argument Value Patterns

- Keyword Argument into

  - Collecting Options

  - Checking for Missing Options

  - Default Values for Options

- Argument Converters

- Help

- Top List and Base List

- Methods for Defining Options

- Parsing

  - Method parse!

  - Method parse

  - Method order!

  - Method order

  - Method permute!

  - Method permute

### To Begin With¶ ↑

To use `OptionParser`:

1. Require the `OptionParser` code.

2. Create an `OptionParser` object.

3. Define one or more options.

4. Parse the command line.

`File` `basic.rb` defines three options, `-x`, `-y`, and `-z`, each with a descriptive string, and each with a block.

    # Require the OptionParser code.
    require 'optparse'
    # Create an OptionParser object.
    parser = OptionParser.new
    # Define one or more options.
    parser.on('-x', 'Whether to X') do |value|
      p ['x', value]
    end
    parser.on('-y', 'Whether to Y') do |value|
      p ['y', value]
    end
    parser.on('-z', 'Whether to Z') do |value|
      p ['z', value]
    end
    # Parse the command line and return pared-down ARGV.
    p parser.parse!

From these defined options, the parser automatically builds help text:

    $ ruby basic.rb --help
    Usage: basic [options]
        -x                               Whether to X
        -y                               Whether to Y
        -z                               Whether to Z

When an option is found during parsing, the block defined for the option is called with the argument value. An invalid option raises an exception.

`Method` parse!, which is used most often in this tutorial, removes from `ARGV` the options and arguments it finds, leaving other non-option arguments for the program to handle on its own. The method returns the possibly-reduced `ARGV` array.

Executions:

    $ ruby basic.rb -x -z
    ["x", true]
    ["z", true]
    []
    $ ruby basic.rb -z -y -x
    ["z", true]
    ["y", true]
    ["x", true]
    []
    $ ruby basic.rb -x input_file.txt output_file.txt
    ["x", true]
    ["input_file.txt", "output_file.txt"]
    $ ruby basic.rb -a
    basic.rb:16:in `<main>': invalid option: -a (OptionParser::InvalidOption)

### Defining Options¶ ↑

A common way to define an option in `OptionParser` is with instance method `OptionParser#on`.

The method may be called with any number of arguments (whose order does not matter), and may also have a trailing optional keyword argument `into`.

The given arguments determine the characteristics of the new option. These may include:

- One or more short option names.

- One or more long option names.

- Whether the option takes no argument, an optional argument, or a required argument.

- Acceptable forms for the argument.

- Acceptable values for the argument.

- A proc or method to be called when the parser encounters the option.

- `String` descriptions for the option.

### Option Names¶ ↑

You can give an option one or more names of two types:

- Short (1-character) name, beginning with one hyphen (`-`).

- Long (multi-character) name, beginning with two hyphens (`--`).

#### Short Option Names¶ ↑

A short option name consists of a hyphen and a single character.

`File` `short_names.rb` defines an option with a short name, `-x`, and an option with two short names (aliases, in effect) `-y` and `-z`.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('-x', 'Short name') do |value|
      p ['x', value]
    end
    parser.on('-1', '-%', 'Two short names') do |value|
      p ['-1 or -%', value]
    end
    parser.parse!

Executions:

    $ ruby short_names.rb --help
    Usage: short_names [options]
        -x                               Short name
        -1, -%                           Two short names
    $ ruby short_names.rb -x
    ["x", true]
    $ ruby short_names.rb -1
    ["-1 or -%", true]
    $ ruby short_names.rb -%
    ["-1 or -%", true]

Multiple short names can “share” a hyphen:

    $ ruby short_names.rb -x1%
    ["x", true]
    ["-1 or -%", true]
    ["-1 or -%", true]

#### Long Option Names¶ ↑

A long option name consists of two hyphens and a one or more characters (usually two or more characters).

`File` `long_names.rb` defines an option with a long name, `--xxx`, and an option with two long names (aliases, in effect) `--y1%` and `--z2#`.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('--xxx', 'Long name') do |value|
      p ['-xxx', value]
    end
    parser.on('--y1%', '--z2#', "Two long names") do |value|
      p ['--y1% or --z2#', value]
    end
    parser.parse!

Executions:

    $ ruby long_names.rb --help
    Usage: long_names [options]
            --xxx                        Long name
            --y1%, --z2#                 Two long names
    $ ruby long_names.rb --xxx
    ["-xxx", true]
    $ ruby long_names.rb --y1%
    ["--y1% or --z2#", true]
    $ ruby long_names.rb --z2#
    ["--y1% or --z2#", true]

A long name may be defined with both positive and negative senses.

`File` `long_with_negation.rb` defines an option that has both senses.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('--[no-]binary', 'Long name with negation') do |value|
      p [value, value.class]
    end
    parser.parse!

Executions:

    $ ruby long_with_negation.rb --help
    Usage: long_with_negation [options]
            --[no-]binary                Long name with negation
    $ ruby long_with_negation.rb --binary
    [true, TrueClass]
    $ ruby long_with_negation.rb --no-binary
    [false, FalseClass]

#### Mixing Option Names¶ ↑

Many developers like to mix short and long option names, so that a short name is in effect an abbreviation of a long name.

`File` `mixed_names.rb` defines options that each have both a short and a long name.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('-x', '--xxx', 'Short and long, no argument') do |value|
      p ['--xxx', value]
    end
    parser.on('-yYYY', '--yyy', 'Short and long, required argument') do |value|
      p ['--yyy', value]
    end
    parser.on('-z [ZZZ]', '--zzz', 'Short and long, optional argument') do |value|
      p ['--zzz', value]
    end
    parser.parse!

Executions:

    $ ruby mixed_names.rb --help
    Usage: mixed_names [options]
        -x, --xxx                        Short and long, no argument
        -y, --yyyYYY                     Short and long, required argument
        -z, --zzz [ZZZ]                  Short and long, optional argument
    $ ruby mixed_names.rb -x
    ["--xxx", true]
    $ ruby mixed_names.rb --xxx
    ["--xxx", true]
    $ ruby mixed_names.rb -y
    mixed_names.rb:12:in `<main>': missing argument: -y (OptionParser::MissingArgument)
    $ ruby mixed_names.rb -y FOO
    ["--yyy", "FOO"]
    $ ruby mixed_names.rb --yyy
    mixed_names.rb:12:in `<main>': missing argument: --yyy (OptionParser::MissingArgument)
    $ ruby mixed_names.rb --yyy BAR
    ["--yyy", "BAR"]
    $ ruby mixed_names.rb -z
    ["--zzz", nil]
    $ ruby mixed_names.rb -z BAZ
    ["--zzz", "BAZ"]
    $ ruby mixed_names.rb --zzz
    ["--zzz", nil]
    $ ruby mixed_names.rb --zzz BAT
    ["--zzz", "BAT"]

#### Option Name Abbreviations¶ ↑

By default, abbreviated option names on the command-line are allowed. An abbreviated name is valid if it is unique among abbreviated option names.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('-n', '--dry-run',) do |value|
      p ['--dry-run', value]
    end
    parser.on('-d', '--draft',) do |value|
      p ['--draft', value]
    end
    parser.parse!

Executions:

    $ ruby name_abbrev.rb --help
    Usage: name_abbrev [options]
        -n, --dry-run
        -d, --draft
    $ ruby name_abbrev.rb -n
    ["--dry-run", true]
    $ ruby name_abbrev.rb --dry-run
    ["--dry-run", true]
    $ ruby name_abbrev.rb -d
    ["--draft", true]
    $ ruby name_abbrev.rb --draft
    ["--draft", true]
    $ ruby name_abbrev.rb --d
    name_abbrev.rb:9:in `<main>': ambiguous option: --d (OptionParser::AmbiguousOption)
    $ ruby name_abbrev.rb --dr
    name_abbrev.rb:9:in `<main>': ambiguous option: --dr (OptionParser::AmbiguousOption)
    $ ruby name_abbrev.rb --dry
    ["--dry-run", true]
    $ ruby name_abbrev.rb --dra
    ["--draft", true]

You can disable abbreviation using method `require_exact`.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('-n', '--dry-run',) do |value|
      p ['--dry-run', value]
    end
    parser.on('-d', '--draft',) do |value|
      p ['--draft', value]
    end
    parser.require_exact = true
    parser.parse!

Executions:

    $ ruby no_abbreviation.rb --dry-ru
    no_abbreviation.rb:10:in `<main>': invalid option: --dry-ru (OptionParser::InvalidOption)
    $ ruby no_abbreviation.rb --dry-run
    ["--dry-run", true]

### Option Arguments¶ ↑

An option may take no argument, a required argument, or an optional argument.

#### Option with No Argument¶ ↑

All the examples above define options with no argument.

#### Option with Required Argument¶ ↑

Specify a required argument for an option by adding a dummy word to its name definition.

`File` `required_argument.rb` defines two options; each has a required argument because the name definition has a following dummy word.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('-x XXX', '--xxx', 'Required argument via short name') do |value|
      p ['--xxx', value]
    end
    parser.on('-y', '--y YYY', 'Required argument via long name') do |value|
      p ['--yyy', value]
    end
    parser.parse!

When an option is found, the given argument is yielded.

Executions:

    $ ruby required_argument.rb --help
    Usage: required_argument [options]
        -x, --xxx XXX                    Required argument via short name
        -y, --y YYY                      Required argument via long name
    $ ruby required_argument.rb -x AAA
    ["--xxx", "AAA"]
    $ ruby required_argument.rb -y BBB
    ["--yyy", "BBB"]

Omitting a required argument raises an error:

    $ ruby required_argument.rb -x
    required_argument.rb:9:in `<main>': missing argument: -x (OptionParser::MissingArgument)

#### Option with Optional Argument¶ ↑

Specify an optional argument for an option by adding a dummy word enclosed in square brackets to its name definition.

`File` `optional_argument.rb` defines two options; each has an optional argument because the name definition has a following dummy word in square brackets.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('-x [XXX]', '--xxx', 'Optional argument via short  name') do |value|
      p ['--xxx', value]
    end
    parser.on('-y', '--yyy [YYY]', 'Optional argument via long name') do |value|
      p ['--yyy', value]
    end
    parser.parse!

When an option with an argument is found, the given argument yielded.

Executions:

    $ ruby optional_argument.rb --help
    Usage: optional_argument [options]
        -x, --xxx [XXX]                  Optional argument via short  name
        -y, --yyy [YYY]                  Optional argument via long name
    $ ruby optional_argument.rb -x AAA
    ["--xxx", "AAA"]
    $ ruby optional_argument.rb -y BBB
    ["--yyy", "BBB"]

Omitting an optional argument does not raise an error.

### Argument Values¶ ↑

Permissible argument values may be restricted either by specifying explicit values or by providing a pattern that the given value must match.

#### Explicit Argument Values¶ ↑

You can specify argument values in either of two ways:

- Specify values an array of strings.

- Specify values a hash.

##### Explicit Values in `Array`¶ ↑

You can specify explicit argument values in an array of strings. The argument value must be one of those strings, or an unambiguous abbreviation.

`File` `explicit_array_values.rb` defines options with explicit argument values.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('-xXXX', ['foo', 'bar'], 'Values for required argument' ) do |value|
      p ['-x', value]
    end
    parser.on('-y [YYY]', ['baz', 'bat'], 'Values for optional argument') do |value|
      p ['-y', value]
    end
    parser.parse!

Executions:

    $ ruby explicit_array_values.rb --help
    Usage: explicit_array_values [options]
        -xXXX                            Values for required argument
        -y [YYY]                         Values for optional argument
    $ ruby explicit_array_values.rb -x
    explicit_array_values.rb:9:in `<main>': missing argument: -x (OptionParser::MissingArgument)
    $ ruby explicit_array_values.rb -x foo
    ["-x", "foo"]
    $ ruby explicit_array_values.rb -x f
    ["-x", "foo"]
    $ ruby explicit_array_values.rb -x bar
    ["-x", "bar"]
    $ ruby explicit_array_values.rb -y ba
    explicit_array_values.rb:9:in `<main>': ambiguous argument: -y ba (OptionParser::AmbiguousArgument)
    $ ruby explicit_array_values.rb -x baz
    explicit_array_values.rb:9:in `<main>': invalid argument: -x baz (OptionParser::InvalidArgument)

##### Explicit Values in `Hash`¶ ↑

You can specify explicit argument values in a hash with string keys. The value passed must be one of those keys, or an unambiguous abbreviation; the value yielded will be the value for that key.

`File` `explicit_hash_values.rb` defines options with explicit argument values.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('-xXXX', {foo: 0, bar: 1}, 'Values for required argument' ) do |value|
      p ['-x', value]
    end
    parser.on('-y [YYY]', {baz: 2, bat: 3}, 'Values for optional argument') do |value|
      p ['-y', value]
    end
    parser.parse!

Executions:

    $ ruby explicit_hash_values.rb --help
    Usage: explicit_hash_values [options]
        -xXXX                            Values for required argument
        -y [YYY]                         Values for optional argument
    $ ruby explicit_hash_values.rb -x
    explicit_hash_values.rb:9:in `<main>': missing argument: -x (OptionParser::MissingArgument)
    $ ruby explicit_hash_values.rb -x foo
    ["-x", 0]
    $ ruby explicit_hash_values.rb -x f
    ["-x", 0]
    $ ruby explicit_hash_values.rb -x bar
    ["-x", 1]
    $ ruby explicit_hash_values.rb -x baz
    explicit_hash_values.rb:9:in `<main>': invalid argument: -x baz (OptionParser::InvalidArgument)
    $ ruby explicit_hash_values.rb -y
    ["-y", nil]
    $ ruby explicit_hash_values.rb -y baz
    ["-y", 2]
    $ ruby explicit_hash_values.rb -y bat
    ["-y", 3]
    $ ruby explicit_hash_values.rb -y ba
    explicit_hash_values.rb:9:in `<main>': ambiguous argument: -y ba (OptionParser::AmbiguousArgument)
    $ ruby explicit_hash_values.rb -y bam
    ["-y", nil]

#### Argument Value Patterns¶ ↑

You can restrict permissible argument values by specifying a `Regexp` that the given argument must match.

`File` `matched_values.rb` defines options with matched argument values.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('--xxx XXX', /foo/i, 'Matched values') do |value|
      p ['--xxx', value]
    end
    parser.parse!

Executions:

    $ ruby matched_values.rb --help
    Usage: matched_values [options]
            --xxx XXX                    Matched values
    $ ruby matched_values.rb --xxx foo
    ["--xxx", "foo"]
    $ ruby matched_values.rb --xxx FOO
    ["--xxx", "FOO"]
    $ ruby matched_values.rb --xxx bar
    matched_values.rb:6:in `<main>': invalid argument: --xxx bar (OptionParser::InvalidArgument)

### Keyword Argument `into`¶ ↑

In parsing options, you can add keyword option `into` with a hash-like argument; each parsed option will be added as a name/value pair.

This is useful for:

- Collecting options.

- Checking for missing options.

- Providing default values for options.

#### Collecting Options¶ ↑

Use keyword argument `into` to collect options.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('-x', '--xxx', 'Short and long, no argument')
    parser.on('-yYYY', '--yyy', 'Short and long, required argument')
    parser.on('-z [ZZZ]', '--zzz', 'Short and long, optional argument')
    options = {}
    parser.parse!(into: options)
    p options

Executions:

    $ ruby collected_options.rb --help
    Usage: into [options]
        -x, --xxx                        Short and long, no argument
        -y, --yyyYYY                     Short and long, required argument
        -z, --zzz [ZZZ]                  Short and long, optional argument
    $ ruby collected_options.rb --xxx
    {:xxx=>true}
    $ ruby collected_options.rb --xxx --yyy FOO
    {:xxx=>true, :yyy=>"FOO"}
    $ ruby collected_options.rb --xxx --yyy FOO --zzz Bar
    {:xxx=>true, :yyy=>"FOO", :zzz=>"Bar"}
    $ ruby collected_options.rb --xxx --yyy FOO --yyy BAR
    {:xxx=>true, :yyy=>"BAR"}

Note in the last execution that the argument value for option `--yyy` was overwritten.

#### Checking for Missing Options¶ ↑

Use the collected options to check for missing options.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('-x', '--xxx', 'Short and long, no argument')
    parser.on('-yYYY', '--yyy', 'Short and long, required argument')
    parser.on('-z [ZZZ]', '--zzz', 'Short and long, optional argument')
    options = {}
    parser.parse!(into: options)
    required_options = [:xxx, :zzz]
    missing_options = required_options - options.keys
    unless missing_options.empty?
      fail "Missing required options: #{missing_options}"
    end

Executions:

    $ ruby missing_options.rb --help
    Usage: missing_options [options]
        -x, --xxx                        Short and long, no argument
        -y, --yyyYYY                     Short and long, required argument
        -z, --zzz [ZZZ]                  Short and long, optional argument
    $ ruby missing_options.rb --yyy FOO
    missing_options.rb:11:in `<main>': Missing required options: [:xxx, :zzz] (RuntimeError)

#### Default Values for Options¶ ↑

Initialize the `into` argument to define default values for options.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('-x', '--xxx', 'Short and long, no argument')
    parser.on('-yYYY', '--yyy', 'Short and long, required argument')
    parser.on('-z [ZZZ]', '--zzz', 'Short and long, optional argument')
    options = {yyy: 'AAA', zzz: 'BBB'}
    parser.parse!(into: options)
    p options

Executions:

    $ ruby default_values.rb --help
    Usage: default_values [options]
        -x, --xxx                        Short and long, no argument
        -y, --yyyYYY                     Short and long, required argument
        -z, --zzz [ZZZ]                  Short and long, optional argument
    $ ruby default_values.rb --yyy FOO
    {:yyy=>"FOO", :zzz=>"BBB"}

### Argument Converters¶ ↑

An option can specify that its argument is to be converted from the default `String` to an instance of another class. There are a number of built-in converters.

Example: `File` `date.rb` defines an option whose argument is to be converted to a `Date` object. The argument is converted by method Date#parse.

    require 'optparse/date'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('--date=DATE', Date) do |value|
      p [value, value.class]
    end
    parser.parse!

Executions:

    $ ruby date.rb --date 2001-02-03
    [#<Date: 2001-02-03 ((2451944j,0s,0n),+0s,2299161j)>, Date]
    $ ruby date.rb --date 20010203
    [#<Date: 2001-02-03 ((2451944j,0s,0n),+0s,2299161j)>, Date]
    $ ruby date.rb --date "3rd Feb 2001"
    [#<Date: 2001-02-03 ((2451944j,0s,0n),+0s,2299161j)>, Date]

You can also define custom converters. See Argument Converters for both built-in and custom converters.

### Help¶ ↑

`OptionParser` makes automatically generated help text available.

The help text consists of:

- A banner, showing the usage.

- Option short and long names.

- Option dummy argument names.

- Option descriptions.

Example code:

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on(
      '-x', '--xxx',
      'Adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget.',
      'Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus',
      )
    parser.on(
      '-y', '--yyy YYY',
      'Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer.'
    )
    parser.on(
      '-z', '--zzz [ZZZ]',
      'Et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur',
      'ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies',
      'nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem.',
      )
    parser.parse!

The option names and dummy argument names are defined as described above.

The option description consists of the strings that are not themselves option names; An option can have more than one description string. Execution:

    Usage: help [options]
        -x, --xxx                        Adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget.
                                         Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus
        -y, --yyy YYY                    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer.
        -z, --zzz [ZZZ]                  Et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur
                                         ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies
                                         nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem.

The program name is included in the default banner: `Usage: #{program_name} [options]`; you can change the program name.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.program_name = 'help_program_name.rb'
    parser.parse!

Execution:

    $ ruby help_program_name.rb --help
    Usage: help_program_name.rb [options]

You can also change the entire banner.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.banner = "Usage: ruby help_banner.rb"
    parser.parse!

Execution:

    $ ruby help_banner.rb --help
    Usage: ruby help_banner.rb

By default, the option names are indented 4 spaces and the width of the option-names field is 32 spaces.

You can change these values, along with the banner, by passing parameters to `OptionParser.new`.

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new(
      'ruby help_format.rb [options]', # Banner
      20,                               # Width of options field
      ' ' * 2                               # Indentation
    )
    parser.on(
      '-x', '--xxx',
      'Adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget.',
      'Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus',
      )
    parser.on(
      '-y', '--yyy YYY',
      'Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer.'
    )
    parser.on(
      '-z', '--zzz [ZZZ]',
      'Et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur',
      'ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies',
      'nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem.',
      )
    parser.parse!

Execution:

    $ ruby help_format.rb --help
    ruby help_format.rb [options]
      -x, --xxx            Adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget.
                           Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus
      -y, --yyy YYY        Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer.
      -z, --zzz [ZZZ]      Et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur
                           ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies
                           nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem.

### Top List and Base List¶ ↑

An `OptionParser` object maintains a stack of `OptionParser::List` objects, each of which has a collection of zero or more options. It is unlikely that you’ll need to add or take away from that stack.

The stack includes:

- The top list, given by `OptionParser#top`.

- The base list, given by `OptionParser#base`.

When `OptionParser` builds its help text, the options in the top list precede those in the base list.

### Methods for Defining Options¶ ↑

Option-defining methods allow you to create an option, and also append/prepend it to the top list or append it to the base list.

Each of these next three methods accepts a sequence of parameter arguments and a block, creates an option object using method `OptionParser#make_switch` (see below), and returns the created option:

- Method `OptionParser#define` appends the created option to the top list.

- Method `OptionParser#define_head` prepends the created option to the top list.

- Method `OptionParser#define_tail` appends the created option to the base list.

These next three methods are identical to the three above, except for their return values:

- Method `OptionParser#on` is identical to method `OptionParser#define`, except that it returns the parser object `self`.

- Method `OptionParser#on_head` is identical to method `OptionParser#define_head`, except that it returns the parser object `self`.

- Method `OptionParser#on_tail` is identical to method `OptionParser#define_tail`, except that it returns the parser object `self`.

Though you may never need to call it directly, here’s the core method for defining an option:

- Method `OptionParser#make_switch` accepts an array of parameters and a block. See Parameters for New Options. This method is unlike others here in that it:

  - Accepts an array of parameters; others accept a sequence of parameter arguments.

  - Returns an array containing the created option object, option names, and other values; others return either the created option object or the parser object `self`.

### Parsing¶ ↑

`OptionParser` has six instance methods for parsing.

Three have names ending with a “bang” (`!`):

- parse!

- order!

- permute!

Each of these methods:

- Accepts an optional array of string arguments `argv`; if not given, `argv` defaults to the value of `OptionParser#default_argv`, whose initial value is ARGV.

- Accepts an optional keyword argument `into` (see Keyword Argument into).

- Returns `argv`, possibly with some elements removed.

The three other methods have names not ending with a “bang”:

- parse

- order

- permute

Each of these methods:

- Accepts an array of string arguments or zero or more string arguments.

- Accepts an optional keyword argument `into` and its value into. (see Keyword Argument into).

- Returns `argv`, possibly with some elements removed.

#### Method `parse!`¶ ↑

Method `parse!`:

- Accepts an optional array of string arguments `argv`; if not given, `argv` defaults to the value of `OptionParser#default_argv`, whose initial value is ARGV.

- Accepts an optional keyword argument `into` (see Keyword Argument into).

- Returns `argv`, possibly with some elements removed.

The method processes the elements in `argv` beginning at `argv[0]`, and ending, by default, at the end.

Otherwise processing ends and the method returns when:

- The terminator argument `--` is found; the terminator argument is removed before the return.

- Environment variable `POSIXLY_CORRECT` is defined and a non-option argument is found; the non-option argument is not removed. Note that the value of that variable does not matter, as only its existence is checked.

`File` `parse_bang.rb`:

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('--xxx') do |value|
      p ['--xxx', value]
    end
    parser.on('--yyy YYY') do |value|
      p ['--yyy', value]
    end
    parser.on('--zzz [ZZZ]') do |value|
      p ['--zzz', value]
    end
    ret = parser.parse!
    puts "Returned: #{ret} (#{ret.class})"

Help:

    $ ruby parse_bang.rb --help
    Usage: parse_bang [options]
            --xxx
            --yyy YYY
            --zzz [ZZZ]

Default behavior:

    $ ruby parse_bang.rb input_file.txt output_file.txt --xxx --yyy FOO --zzz BAR
    ["--xxx", true]
    ["--yyy", "FOO"]
    ["--zzz", "BAR"]
    Returned: ["input_file.txt", "output_file.txt"] (Array)

Processing ended by terminator argument:

    $ ruby parse_bang.rb input_file.txt output_file.txt --xxx --yyy FOO -- --zzz BAR
    ["--xxx", true]
    ["--yyy", "FOO"]
    Returned: ["input_file.txt", "output_file.txt", "--zzz", "BAR"] (Array)

Processing ended by non-option found when `POSIXLY_CORRECT` is defined:

    $ POSIXLY_CORRECT=true ruby parse_bang.rb --xxx input_file.txt output_file.txt -yyy FOO
    ["--xxx", true]
    Returned: ["input_file.txt", "output_file.txt", "-yyy", "FOO"] (Array)

#### Method `parse`¶ ↑

Method `parse`:

- Accepts an array of string arguments or zero or more string arguments.

- Accepts an optional keyword argument `into` and its value into. (see Keyword Argument into).

- Returns `argv`, possibly with some elements removed.

If given an array `ary`, the method forms array `argv` as `ary.dup`. If given zero or more string arguments, those arguments are formed into array `argv`.

The method calls

    parse!(argv, into: into)

Note that environment variable `POSIXLY_CORRECT` and the terminator argument `--` are honored.

`File` `parse.rb`:

    require 'optparse'
    parser = OptionParser.new
    parser.on('--xxx') do |value|
      p ['--xxx', value]
    end
    parser.on('--yyy YYY') do |value|
      p ['--yyy', value]
    end
    parser.on('--zzz [ZZZ]') do |value|
      p ['--zzz', value]
    end
    ret = parser.parse(ARGV)
    puts "Returned: #{ret} (#{ret.class})"

Help:

    $ ruby parse.rb --help
    Usage: parse [options]
            --xxx
            --yyy YYY
            --zzz [ZZZ]

Default behavior:

    $ ruby parse.rb input_file.txt output_file.txt --xxx --yyy FOO --zzz BAR
    ["--xxx", true]
    ["--yyy", "FOO"]
    ["--zzz", "BAR"]
    Returned: ["input_file.txt", "output_file.txt"] (Array)

Processing ended by terminator argument:

    $ ruby parse.rb input_file.txt output_file.txt --xxx --yyy FOO -- --zzz BAR
    ["--xxx", true]
    ["--yyy", "FOO"]
    Returned: ["input_file.txt", "output_file.txt", "--zzz", "BAR"] (Array)

Processing ended by non-option found when `POSIXLY_CORRECT` is defined:

    $ POSIXLY_CORRECT=true ruby parse.rb --xxx input_file.txt output_file.txt -yyy FOO
    ["--xxx", true]
    Returned: ["input_file.txt", "output_file.txt", "-yyy", "FOO"] (Array)

#### Method `order!`¶ ↑

Calling method `OptionParser#order!` gives exactly the same result as calling method `OptionParser#parse!` with environment variable `POSIXLY_CORRECT` defined.

#### Method `order`¶ ↑

Calling method `OptionParser#order` gives exactly the same result as calling method `OptionParser#parse` with environment variable `POSIXLY_CORRECT` defined.

#### Method `permute!`¶ ↑

Calling method `OptionParser#permute!` gives exactly the same result as calling method `OptionParser#parse!` with environment variable `POSIXLY_CORRECT` not defined.

#### Method `permute`¶ ↑

Calling method `OptionParser#permute` gives exactly the same result as calling method `OptionParser#parse` with environment variable `POSIXLY_CORRECT` not defined.