IRB(1)

NAME
irb - Interactive Ruby Shell

SYNOPSIS
irb [--version] [-dfUw] [-I directory] [-r library] [-E external[:internal]] [-W[level]] [--[no]inspect] [--[no]multiline] [--[no]singleline] [--[no]echo] [--[no]colorize] [--[no]autocomplete] [--[no]verbose] [--prompt mode] [--prompt-mode mode] [--inf-ruby-mode] [--simple-prompt] [--noprompt] [--tracer] [--back-trace-limit n] [--] [program_file] [argument ...]

DESCRIPTION
irb is the REPL(read-eval-print loop) environment for Ruby programs.

OPTIONS

--version
    Prints the version of irb.

-E external[:internal]
--encoding external[:internal]
    Same as `ruby -E' . Specifies the default value(s) for external encodings and internal encoding. Values should be separated with colon (:).

    You can omit the one for internal encodings, then the value (Encoding.default_internal) will be nil.

-I path
    Same as `ruby -I' . Specifies $LOAD_PATH directory

-U  Same as `ruby -U' . Sets the default value for internal encodings (Encoding.default_internal) to UTF-8.

-d  Same as `ruby -d' . Sets $DEBUG to true.

-f  Suppresses read of ~/.irbrc.

-w  Same as `ruby -w' .

-W  Same as `ruby -W' .

-h
--help
    Prints a summary of the options.

-r library
    Same as `ruby -r'. Causes irb to load the library using require.

--inspect
    Uses `inspect' for output (default except for bc mode)

--noinspect
    Doesn't use inspect for output

--multiline
    Uses multiline editor module.

--nomultiline
    Doesn't use multiline editor module.

--singleline
    Uses singleline editor module.

--nosingleline
    Doesn't use singleline editor module.

--extra-doc-dir
    Add an extra doc dir for the doc dialog.

--echo
    Show result (default).

--noecho
    Don't show result.

--echo-on-assignment
    Show result on assignment.

--noecho-on-assignment
    Don't show result on assignment.

--truncate-echo-on-assignment
    Show truncated result on assignment (default).

--colorize
    Use colorization.

--nocolorize
    Don't use colorization.

--autocomplete
    Use autocompletion.

--noautocomplete
    Don't use autocompletion.

--regexp-completor
    Use regexp based completion.

--type-completor
    Use type based completion.

--verbose
    Show details.

--noverbose
    Don't show details.

--prompt mode
--prompt-mode mode
    Switch prompt mode. Pre-defined prompt modes are `default', `simple', `xmp' and `inf-ruby'.

--inf-ruby-mode
    Uses prompt appropriate for inf-ruby-mode on emacs. Suppresses --multiline and --singleline.

--simple-prompt
    Makes prompts simple.

--noprompt
    No prompt mode.

--tracer
    Displays trace for each execution of commands.

--back-trace-limit n
    Displays backtrace top n and tail n. The default value is 16.

ENVIRONMENT
IRB_LANG
    The locale used for irb.

IRBRC
    The path to the personal initialization file.

XDG_CONFIG_HOME
    irb respects XDG_CONFIG_HOME. If it is set and IRBRC is unset, load $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/irb/irbrc as a personal initialization file.

RI_PAGER
    The command specified would be used as a pager.

PAGER
    The command specified would be used as a pager if RI_PAGER is unset.

VISUAL
    Its value would be used to open files by the edit command.

EDITOR
    Its value would be used to open files by the edit command if VISUAL is unset.

NO_COLOR
    Assigning a value to it disables colorization.

IRB_USE_AUTOCOMPLETE
    Assigning false to it disables autocompletion.

IRB_COMPLETOR
    Autocompletion behavior. Allowed values are regexp or type

Also irb depends on same variables as ruby(1).

FILES
~/.irbrc
    Personal irb initialization. If IRBRC is set, read $IRBRC instead. If IRBRC is not set and XDG_CONFIG_HOME is set, $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/irb/irbrc is loaded.

EXAMPLES
    % irb
    irb(main):001:0> 1 + 1
    2
    irb(main):002:0> def t(x)
    irb(main):003:1> x + 1
    irb(main):004:1> end
    => :t
    irb(main):005:0> t(3)
    => 4
    irb(main):006:0> if t(3) == 4
    irb(main):007:1> p :ok
    irb(main):008:1> end
    :ok
    => :ok
    irb(main):009:0> quit
    %

SEE ALSO
ruby(1).

REPORTING BUGS

•   Security vulnerabilities should be reported via an email to security@ruby-lang.org. Reported problems will be published after being fixed.

•   Other bugs and feature requests can be reported via the Ruby Issue Tracking System (https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/). Do not report security vulnerabilities via this system because it publishes the vulnerabilities immediately.

AUTHORS
Written by Keiju ISHITSUKA.