Is there any difference between the `:key => “value”` and `key: “value”` hash notations?

Question

Is there any difference between :key => \"value\" (hashrocket) and key: \"value\" (Ruby 1.9) notations?

If not, then I would like to use

Answer 1

The key: value JSON-style assignments are a part of the new Ruby 1.9 hash syntax, so bear in mind that this syntax will not work with older versions of Ruby. Also, the keys are going to be symbols. If you can live with those two constraints, new hashes work just like the old hashes; there's no reason (other than style, perhaps) to convert them.