ruby - Deal with Array of Hashes or single Hash ( from an API Response) -

i have api responding either:

1. an array of hashes

   results = [{a: 1, b: 2}, {a:2, b:3}] 

2. a single hash, if 1 result

   results = {a:1, b:2} 

3. or nil

i'm trying work out elegant way deal situation can add parameter it's present.

e.g. situation 1:

results.map!{|h| h.update(c:3) } 

situation 2:

results[:c] = 3 

situation 3:

(don't anything) 

i've tried

if results.is_a?(array)   results.map!{|h| h.update(c:3) } elsif results.is_a?(hash)   results.update(c:3) end 

but looks ugly, messes code around (and i've got bug can't pin down)...

is there more elegant way this?

hopefully should work you.

 # api simulator  def call_api     # lets return randomly - 1 of 3 results     [ [{a: 1, b: 2}, {a:2, b:3}], {a: 1, b:2}, nil ].sample  end   5.times      r = []     r << call_api     p r.flatten.compact.map { |h| h.update(c:3) }  end 

above code can written below:

5.times   p  [call_api].flatten.compact.map { |h| h.update(c:3)} end 

the output array always, may empty or if contains hashes, have { :c => 3 } in each of hashes. 1 of sample run produces below output:

[] [{:a=>1, :b=>2, :c=>3}] [] [{:a=>1, :b=>2, :c=>3}, {:a=>2, :b=>3, :c=>3}] [{:a=>1, :b=>2, :c=>3}]