Feature #1122 [request for Object#try (guarded method invocation)] Today: >> if entry.at('description') && entry.at('description').inner_text or: >> if (description = entry.at('description') && description.inner_text Proposal: Object#&& method: if entry.at('description').&&.inner_text or alternate Proposal Object#andand or Object#present? or some other name: if entry.at('description').present?.inner_text Pros: easier to read, no variable allocation. Unknown cons.