Issue #10927 has been updated by Robert A. Heiler. I don't think this is likely to get in because it breaks backwards compatibility. The prior usage could well be a case for .delete when it comes to .gsub: "foo".delete("o") #=> "f" Perhaps .delete could allow to replace just n occurences instead, to also allow .sub behaviour, such as: "foo".delete('o',1) #=> "fo" ---------------------------------------- Feature #10927: [PATCH] Add default empty string to string replacements https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/10927#change-51732 * Author: zimba tm * Status: Open * Priority: Normal * Assignee: ---------------------------------------- Hi ruby devs ! A common case for string substitution is to just remove the found items. This patch changes the `String#[g]sub[!]` methods to allow that. Old usages: "foo".sub("o", "") #=> "fo" "foo".gsub("o", "") #=> "f" New usages: "foo".sub("o") #=> "fo" "foo".gsub("o") #=> "f" Applies to the bang versions as well. This commit changes the return values of String#gsub! call with a single argument and no block from an Enumerator to a String. The previous usage would return an Enumerator containing each match, which is not a string substitution. A suitable replacement should nonetheless be found before merging this commit. Before: "foo".gsub("o") #=> #<Enumerator: "foo":gsub("o")> Replacement: ??? ---Files-------------------------------- 0001-Add-a-default-empty-string-to-string-replacements.patch (2.2 KB) -- https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/