How to install a Ruby gem?

To install a Ruby gem, you can use the RubyGems package manager, which simplifies the process of downloading and managing gems. Here are the steps to install a Ruby gem:

1. Check Existing Gems (Optional): Before installing a gem, you can check if it’s already installed on your system by running the `gem list` command. This will display a list of installed gems along with their versions.

```shell

   gem list

   ```

2. Install a Gem: To install a specific gem, use the `gem install` command followed by the gem’s name. For example, to install a gem named “example_gem,” run:

 ```shell

   gem install example_gem

   ```

   RubyGems will connect to the RubyGems.org repository by default to download and install the specified gem. If the gem has dependencies, RubyGems will automatically install them as well.

3. Specify Gem Version (Optional): You can specify the version of a gem you want to install by appending the desired version number after the gem’s name. For instance, to install version 1.2.0 of “example_gem,” you can run:

 ```shell

   gem install example_gem -v 1.2.0

   ```

4. Gemfile and Bundler (Recommended for Projects): For Ruby projects, it’s a best practice to specify gem dependencies in a Gemfile and use the Bundler tool to manage them. Create a Gemfile in your project directory and list the gems your project depends on, along with their versions. Then, run `bundle install` to install the gems specified in the Gemfile and ensure consistent versions across different environments.

 ```shell

   # Gemfile

   source 'https://rubygems.org'

   gem 'example_gem', '~> 1.2.0'

   ```




   ```shell

   # Install gems listed in the Gemfile

   bundle install

   ```

5. Verify Installation: After installation, you can verify that the gem is installed correctly by running `gem list` again or checking the gem’s documentation for usage instructions.

```shell

   gem list

   ```

By following these steps, you can easily install Ruby gems on your system or within your Ruby projects. RubyGems and Bundler are valuable tools for managing gem dependencies, ensuring that your Ruby applications have access to the necessary libraries and functionality.