how and when are Ruby variables instantiated

ruby, ruby-on-rails

Solution

It has to do with the way the Ruby interpreter reads the code.

The assignment to the variable doesn't have to be executed; the Ruby interpreter just needs to have seen that the variable exists on the left side of an assignment. (Programming Ruby 1.9 & 2.0)

a = "never used" if false
[99].each do |i|
  a = i # this sets the variable in the outer scope
end
a # => 99

"Ruby interpreter creates the variable even though the assignment isn't actually executed." http://www.jacopretorius.net/2012/01/block-variable-scope-in-ruby.html

Problem

from rails console: ``` development environment (Rails 3.2.9) 1.9.2p320 :001 > defined?(kol) => nil 1.9.2p320 :002 > if 1==2 1.9.2p320 :003?> kol = 'mess' 1.9.2p320 :004?> end => nil 1.9.2p320 :005 > defined?(kol) => "local-variable" 1.9.2p320 :006 > kol => nil ``` my question is, why the does variable `kol` get instantiated to `nil` even though the condition (1==2) fails?

Original source