gistfile1.rbx

require "benchmark"

TIMES = (ARGV[0] || 1_000_000).to_i

class A
  def to_s
    "foo"
  end
end

class B
  attr_accessor :a
end

Benchmark.bmbm do |x|
  x.report("rescue") { TIMES.times {b = B.new; (b.a.to_s rescue nil)} }
  x.report("check nil") { TIMES.times {b = B.new; b.a && b.a.to_s} }
  x.report("terenary") { TIMES.times {b = B.new; (b.a ? b.a.to_s : nil)}}
end