create-a-csv-table-object.md

Create A CSV::Table Object

When you parse a file or string using CSV.parse (with headers = true) you get a CSV::Table object in response. This object can be used to read what was in a file or it can be used to create a new file. It is also handy as a potential test object if you want to assume, but omit, file reading in a unit test.

You can create a CSV::Table one of the following two ways. First, with a file:

require 'csv'

file = # read in file
csv_table = CSV.parse(file, headers: true)

Second, with a string, or even better, a HEREDOC:

require 'csv'

csv_table =
  CSV.parse(<<-CSV, headers: true)
    first_name,last_name,taco
    Josh,Branchaud,"Al Pastor"
    Jake,Worth,Cauliflower
  CSV

csv_table.headers
#=> ["first_name", "last_name", "taco"]

From here, you can do what you need with it, whether that is using it in a test or writing it to a file.

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