How to format a number 1000 as “1 000”

Question

I need a way to format numbers. I stored some numbers in my DB table, e.g. 12500, and would like to print them in this format 12 500 (so there is a

Answer 1

So, this is pretty crazy and hackish, but it gets the job done...

12500.to_s.split("").reverse.each_slice(3).map {|y| y.join("").reverse}.reverse.join(" ")
 => "12 500" 

.to_s: convert to string
.split(""): split into separate digits
.reverse: reverse order
.each_slice(3): peel of each three digits (working from back end due to reverse)
.map {|y| y.join("").reverse}: map into an array for each three digits - join back together with no delimiter and reverse order back to original
.reverse: reverse order of mapped array
.join(" "): join mapped array back together with space delimiter