array index 0 set to a variable and then returns nil value, Ruby -

with puts command below output contents of variable new_array , contents @ index 0, have stored in variable called first element. output class of first_element , nil class returned. can explain why is? also, there better way this?

thanks!

new_array = []  first_element = new_array[0]  array = ["1", "2"]  array.each |x|     new_array << x.to_i end  puts new_array[0] puts first_element.class 

output

$ruby testing_2.rb 1 nilclass 

when new_array initialized, it's initialized empty array. means has 0 elements. if try access index, you're trying access index doesn't exist. in ruby, referred nil.