Check for array not empty: any?

Question

Is it bad to check if an array is not empty by using any? method?

a = [1,2,3]

a.any?
=> true

a.clear

a.any?
=> false
<         


        

Answer 1

Avoid any? for large arrays.

• any? is O(n)
• empty? is O(1)

any? does not check the length but actually scans the whole array for truthy elements.

static VALUE
rb_ary_any_p(VALUE ary)
{
  long i, len = RARRAY_LEN(ary);
  const VALUE *ptr = RARRAY_CONST_PTR(ary);

  if (!len) return Qfalse;
  if (!rb_block_given_p()) {
    for (i = 0; i < len; ++i) if (RTEST(ptr[i])) return Qtrue;
  }
  else {
    for (i = 0; i < RARRAY_LEN(ary); ++i) {
        if (RTEST(rb_yield(RARRAY_AREF(ary, i)))) return Qtrue;
    }
  }
  return Qfalse;
}

empty? on the other hand checks the length of the array only.

static VALUE
rb_ary_empty_p(VALUE ary)
{
  if (RARRAY_LEN(ary) == 0)
    return Qtrue;
  return Qfalse;
}

The difference is relevant if you have "sparse" arrays that start with lots of nil values, like for example an array that was just created.