How to save a hash into a CSV

Question

I am new in ruby so please forgive the noobishness.

I have a CSV with two columns. One for animal name and one for animal type. I have a hash with all the keys being

Answer 1

CSV can take a hash in any order, exclude elements, and omit a params not in the HEADERS

require "csv"
HEADERS = [
  'dog',
  'cat',
  'donkey'
]

def write_file

  CSV.open("data.csv", "wb", :headers => HEADERS, :write_headers => true) do |csv|
    csv << { 'dog' => 'canine', 'cat' => 'feline', 'donkey' => 'asinine' }
    csv << { 'dog' => 'canine'}
    csv << { 'cat' => 'feline', 'dog' => 'canine', 'donkey' => 'asinine' }
    csv << { 'dog' => 'canine', 'cat' => 'feline', 'donkey' => 'asinine', 'header not provided in the options to #open' => 'not included in output' }
  end
end

write_file # => 
# dog,cat,donkey
# canine,feline,asinine
# canine,,
# canine,feline,asinine
# canine,feline,asinine

This makes working with the CSV class more flexible and readable.