How each method handles nil
There are a number of methods, but knowing how it handles nil values can determine which method you should choose.
This will throw an error
iex(4)> "my name is " <> "adam"
"my name is adam"
iex(1)> "my name is " <> nil
** (ArgumentError) expected binary argument in <> operator but got: nil
(elixir) lib/kernel.ex:1767: Kernel.wrap_concatenation/3
(elixir) lib/kernel.ex:1758: Kernel.extract_concatenations/2
(elixir) lib/kernel.ex:1754: Kernel.extract_concatenations/2
(elixir) expanding macro: Kernel.<>/2
iex:1: (file)
This will just insert a blank "" string:
iex(1)> "my name is #{nil}"
"my name is "
As will this:
iex(3)> Enum.join(["my name is", nil], " ")
"my name is "
Also consider types. With <>
you don't get any free casting:
iex(5)> "my name is " <> 1
** (ArgumentError) expected binary argument in <> operator but got: 1
(elixir) lib/kernel.ex:1767: Kernel.wrap_concatenation/3
(elixir) lib/kernel.ex:1758: Kernel.extract_concatenations/2
(elixir) lib/kernel.ex:1754: Kernel.extract_concatenations/2
(elixir) expanding macro: Kernel.<>/2
iex:5: (file)
iex(5)> "my name is #{1}"
"my name is 1"
iex(7)> Enum.join(["my name is", 1], " ")
"my name is 1"
Performance in practice seems roughly the same:
iex(22)> :timer.tc(fn -> Enum.each(1..10_000_000, fn _ -> "my name is " <> "adam" end) end)
{8023855, :ok}
iex(23)> :timer.tc(fn -> Enum.each(1..10_000_000, fn _ -> "my name is " <> "adam" end) end)
{8528052, :ok}
iex(24)> :timer.tc(fn -> Enum.each(1..10_000_000, fn _ -> "my name is " <> "adam" end) end)
{7778532, :ok}
iex(25)> :timer.tc(fn -> Enum.each(1..10_000_000, fn _ -> "my name is #{"adam"}" end) end)
{7620582, :ok}
iex(26)> :timer.tc(fn -> Enum.each(1..10_000_000, fn _ -> "my name is #{"adam"}" end) end)
{7782710, :ok}
iex(27)> :timer.tc(fn -> Enum.each(1..10_000_000, fn _ -> "my name is #{"adam"}" end) end)
{7743727, :ok}
So, really depends on if you want to crash or not when the interpolated values are nil
or the wrong type.