[ruby-core:126086] [Ruby Feature#22108] Computed hash keys with (expr): syntax

14 Jul 2026

      Issue #22108 has been updated by kddnewton (Kevin Newton).

We're not "locked out" of using non-symbolic keys in hash patterns because of a syntax restriction, it's because the contract for deconstruct_keys assumes a symbol-keyed hash. It's not just changing the call site, it's also changing the interface.

Also, if this was actually a desired feature with a real use case, `=>` could already be used. We don't need to introduce new syntax.

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Feature #22108: Computed hash keys with (expr): syntax
https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/22108#change-118089

* Author: yertto (_ yertto)
* Status: Rejected
----------------------------------------
...
[!WARNING]
This has potentially been obsoleted by [Feature #22111](https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/22111)
# Computed hash keys with `(expr):` syntax

Allow `{ (expr): value }` as a computed hash key.
Almost 20 years in the making, the missing puzzle piece for Hash's "new" colon notation:

```ruby
h = {
  name: "symbol shorthand",          # Ruby 1.9+
  "quoted label": "symbol label",    # Ruby 2.2+ (Feature #4935)
  value_omission: ,                  # Ruby 3.1+ (Feature #14579)
  (expr): "computed",                # THIS PROPOSAL
}
```

## Motivation

Ruby has several colon-based hash key syntaxes but the `=>` ("hash rocket") is still needed for non-symbolic keys.
Adding `(expr):` is a baby step toward allowing all-colon hashes:

```ruby
## Before -- mixed styles
n = 42; { key1: "symbol", "key-#{2}": "quoted symbol", RUBY_VERSION:, n => "bar" }.keys
# => [:key1, :"key-2", :RUBY_VERSION, 42]

## After -- uniform colon syntax
n = 42; { key1: "symbol", "key-#{2}": "quoted symbol", RUBY_VERSION:, n : "bar" }.keys
# => [:key1, :"key-2", :RUBY_VERSION, 42]
```

(And maybe a step closer to one day retiring our old friend "hash rocket" from Hashes entirely?)

### Completing the colon family

| Example | Ruby | Feature | Key type |
|---------|------|---------|----------|
| `{ name: value }` | [v1.9](https://docs.ruby-lang.org/en/3.4/NEWS/NEWS-1_9_1.html) |  | Symbol |
| `{ "quoted label": value }` | [v2.2](https://docs.ruby-lang.org/en/3.4/NEWS/NEWS-2_2_0.html) | [Feature #4935](https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/4935) | Symbol (quoted label) |
| `{ value_omission: }` | [v3.1](https://docs.ruby-lang.org/en/3.4/NEWS/NEWS-3_1_0_md.html) | [Feature #14579](https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/14579) | Value omission |
| `{ (expr): value }` | *???* | [Feature #22108](https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/22108) | Computed |

### Readability for computed-key-heavy code

Code that builds dynamic hashes currently forces a style break midway through a literal.
This is especially noticeable with interpolated keys, numeric keys, or variable-driven keys.

### Reducing `=>` overloading

The `=>` token is now being used to serve more purposes than just the Hash literal (aka "Hash rocket") it was originally used for.
- rightward assignment
  ```
  expr => var
  ```
- pattern capture
  ```
  case {name: "Alice", role: "admin"}
  in {name: String => name, role:}  # capture the name String value into `name`
    p name  # => "Alice"
  end
  ```
- rescue variables
  ```
  rescue SomeExceptionClass => e
  ```
  ```
  rescue => e
  ```
Reducing its use in Hashes simplifies the language, especially for newcomers.

## Design

### `(expr):` vs `[expr]:`

Parenthesized expressions were chosen over square bracket delimited:

- Idempotent wrapping: `((x))` = `(x)`, but `[[x]]` != `[x]` (nested array)
- Array keys: `{(["a"]): "b"}` reads naturally vs `{[["a"]]: "b"}` requiring extra wrapping
- `jq` precedent: the JSON query language uses identical `{("a"+"b"): 59}` syntax (since [jq 1.6](https://jqlang.org/manual/v1.6/#object-construction), 2018)
- Parentheses signals a grouping or "evaluate this", whereas square brackets signals an Array/container

### Improving on JavaScript

JavaScript's "[computed property names](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Operators/...)" `{ [expr]: value }` were introduced in ECMAScript 2015 (ES6), 3 years before the jq version.
However in Ruby, `[]` already means Array literal and method call.
Rather than overloading `[]` further, `(expr):` (from jq) improves on the JavaScript design.
Parentheses naturally signal evaluation, `():` inside `{}` is unambiguous to the lexer, and it matches the well-established jq convention.

### Edge cases handled

- `(expr) : value` (space before colon) -- *syntax error* (consistent with `name : value`)
- `{ (expr): }` (value omission) -- *syntax error* (runtime expression, no compile-time local to infer)
- Mixed styles: `{ (1): "one", two: "two", "three": "three" }` -- *valid*
- Nested parens: `{ ((1 + 2) * 3): "nested" }` -- *valid*
- Nested hashes: `{ ({(1): "one"}): "two" }` -- *valid*

## Implementation

Three changes to `parse.y` (Lrama LALR(1) parser, zero new conflicts):

1. Lexer: emit `tLABEL_END` when `EXPR_ENDFN` state, no space before `:`, and inside `brace_nest > 0`
2. Grammar: new `assoc` alternative -- `tLPAREN compstmt ")" tLABEL_END arg_value`
3. Precedence: `%nonassoc ')'` to disambiguate

Reference implementation: [feature/computed-hash-keys](https://github.com/ruby/ruby/pull/17299) PR on GitHub.

## Historical context

A version of this was discussed on ruby-core in October 2007 (as part of ["General hash keys for colon notation"](https://public-inbox.org/ruby-core/E1ImQBE-00033s-IZ@x31/T/), murphy).
Unfortunately it was brought up during the v1.9 feature freeze, but it looks like [Matz's invitation to discuss for v2.0](https://public-inbox.org/ruby-core/E1ImQA8-00033T-8c@x31/) didn't end up going anywhere.
Since then, `"quoted label":` (Ruby 2.2, [Feature #4935](https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/4935)) and value omission (Ruby 3.1, [Feature #14579](https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/14579)) have expanded the colon family, making the computed-key gap more conspicuous.
Meanwhile, jq introduced the identical `{("a"+"b"):59}` syntax in [jq 1.6](https://jqlang.org/manual/v1.6/#object-construction) (2018), demonstrating real-world viability.

## Open questions

- Is this syntax acceptable to the community?
- Is the jq precedent compelling enough to address the "no language does this" objection?

## Future directions

All colon-based key syntaxes would now be available.
This opens up the possibility of eventually deprecating `=>` from Hash literals (while keeping it for rescue, pattern matching, and rightward assignment).
This proposal does not require that change - it is simply the enabling step, and any deprecation timeline could be a separate discussion.

-- 
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