title: How to convert a string to a hash in Ruby on Rails without using eval?
body: <p>Here is the <code>string</code> which needs to convert into a <code>hash</code>.</p>
  <pre><code>&quot;{:status =&gt; {:label =&gt; 'Status', :collection =&gt; return_misc_definitions('project_status') } }&quot;
  </code></pre>
  <p>We can not use <code>eval</code> because <code>eval</code> will execute the method <code>return_misc_definitions('project_status')</code> in the string. Is there pure string operation to accomplish this conversion in Ruby/Rails?</p>