parsing - Ruby best way to make this string an array? -

what best way make string looks array of hashes real array?

the string looks this: [{name:"lol", age:12},{name:"lmao", age:66},{name: "roflcopter", age:99}] , need same array.

input: (a string)

'[{name:"lol", age:12},{name:"lmao", age:66},{name: "roflcopter", age:99}]' 

expected output: (an array of hashes)

[{name:"lol", age:12},{name:"lmao", age:66},{name: "roflcopter", age:99}] 

your string similar to, not quite same json. means have 3 choices.

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1) convert json (upstream)

the difference between string , proper json string in json, keys need wrapped in quotes. if have control on format of string, suggest change in json format:

'[{"name":"lol", "age":12},{"name":"lmao", "age":66},{"name": "roflcopter", "age":99}]' 

once string in format, can turn array of hashes using json.parse:

require "json" source_string = '[{"name":"lol", "age":12},{"name":"lmao", "age":66},{"name": "roflcopter", "age":99}]' data = json.parse source_string puts data[0] #=> {"name"=>"lol", "age"=>12} 

i highly recommend course of action. included json parser handles string validation in secure way. moreover, json designed providing arrays , hashes in string form. well-accepted standard people understand.

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2) convert json (downstream)

if reason cannot update source string json default (maybe you're working third party refuses adopt better standard), can programmatically modify string in proper json format. went ahead , wrote regex put proper quotes around string:

source_string = '[{name:"lol", age:12},{name:"lmao", age:66},{name: "roflcopter", age:99}]' json_string = source_string.gsub /(?<=[{,])\s*(\w+)(?=:)/, '"\1"' data = json.parse json_string puts data[0] #=> {"name"=>"lol", "age"=>12} 

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3) use eval

your string, in current format, valid ruby code. means can use eval execute ruby code:

data = eval('[{name:"lol", age:12},{name:"lmao", age:66},{name: "roflcopter", age:99}]') puts data[0] #=>{name: "lol", age: 12} 

the issue eval, , reason , many other people advise against it, it's incredibly insecure. said data coming post request- if user happens modify request send string "system('rm *')", code execute:

eval("system('rm *')") 

which, may have guessed, wipe harddrive. can try write string validation make sure string safe before running eval, sort of validation not easy task, , eval weakest point in code, security standpoint.

honestly, there's no reason should this, since option #2 wonderfully straight-forward. mention know avoid it.