Is there an equivalent to `Array::sample` for hashes?

Question

I\'m looking to extract n random key-value pairs from a hash.

Answer 1

Reading the top ranked answers, I'd go with it depends:

1. If you want to sample only one element from the hash, @Ivaylo Strandjev's solution only relies on hash lookup and Array#sample:

   hsh[hsh.keys.sample]
   

2. To sample multiple hash elements, @sawa's answer leverages Array#to_h:

   hsh.to_a.sample(n).to_h
   

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Note that, as @cadlac mentions, hsh.to_a.sample.to_h won't work as expected. It will raise

TypeError: wrong element type String at 0 (expected array)

because Array#sample in this case returns just the element array, and not the array containing the element array.

A workaround is his solution, providing an n = 1 as an argument:

hsh.to_a.sample(1).to_h

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PS: not looking for upvotes, only adding it as an explanation for people newer to Ruby.