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Class: Object

Relationships & Source Files
Super Chains via Extension / Inclusion / Inheritance
Instance Chain:
self, ::Kernel
Inherits: BasicObject
Defined in: class.c,
enumerator.c,
eval.c,
gc.c,
hash.c,
io.c,
object.c,
proc.c,
variable.c,
vm_eval.c,
vm_method.c

Overview

Object is the default root of all Ruby objects. Object inherits from ::BasicObject which allows creating alternate object hierarchies. Methods on Object are available to all classes unless explicitly overridden.

Object mixes in the ::Kernel module, making the built-in kernel functions globally accessible. Although the instance methods of Object are defined by the ::Kernel module, we have chosen to document them here for clarity.

When referencing constants in classes inheriting from Object you do not need to use the full namespace. For example, referencing ::File inside YourClass will find the top-level ::File class.

In the descriptions of Object’s methods, the parameter symbol refers to a symbol, which is either a quoted string or a ::Symbol (such as :name).

What’s Here

First, what’s elsewhere. Class Object:

  • Inherits from class Basic.

  • Includes module Kernel.

Here, class Object provides methods for:

  • Querying

  • Instance Variables

  • Other

Querying

  • #!~: Returns true if self does not match the given object, otherwise false.

  • #<=>: Returns 0 if self and the given object object are the same object, or if self == object; otherwise returns nil.

  • #===: Implements case equality, effectively the same as calling #==.

  • #eql?: Implements hash equality, effectively the same as calling #==.

  • #kind_of? (aliased as #is_a?): Returns whether given argument is an ancestor of the singleton class of self.

  • #instance_of?: Returns whether self is an instance of the given class.

  • #instance_variable_defined?: Returns whether the given instance variable is defined in self.

  • #method: Returns the ::Method object for the given method in self.

  • #methods: Returns an array of symbol names of public and protected methods in self.

  • #nil?: Returns false. (Only nil responds true to method #nil?.)

  • #object_id: Returns an integer corresponding to self that is unique for the current process

  • #private_methods: Returns an array of the symbol names of the private methods in self.

  • #protected_methods: Returns an array of the symbol names of the protected methods in self.

  • #public_method: Returns the ::Method object for the given public method in self.

  • #public_methods: Returns an array of the symbol names of the public methods in self.

  • #respond_to?: Returns whether self responds to the given method.

  • #singleton_class: Returns the singleton class of self.

  • #singleton_method: Returns the ::Method object for the given singleton method in self.

  • #singleton_methods: Returns an array of the symbol names of the singleton methods in self.

  • #define_singleton_method: Defines a singleton method in self for the given symbol method-name and block or proc.

  • #extend: Includes the given modules in the singleton class of self.

  • #public_send: Calls the given public method in self with the given argument.

  • #send: Calls the given method in self with the given argument.

Instance Variables

Other

  • #clone: Returns a shallow copy of self, including singleton class and frozen state.

  • #define_singleton_method: Defines a singleton method in self for the given symbol method-name and block or proc.

  • #display: Prints self to the given ::IO stream or $stdout.

  • #dup: Returns a shallow unfrozen copy of self.

  • #enum_for (aliased as #to_enum): Returns an ::Enumerator for self using the using the given method, arguments, and block.

  • #extend: Includes the given modules in the singleton class of self.

  • #freeze: Prevents further modifications to self.

  • #hash: Returns the integer hash value for self.

  • #inspect: Returns a human-readable string representation of self.

  • #itself: Returns self.

  • #method_missing: ::Method called when an undefined method is called on self.

  • #public_send: Calls the given public method in self with the given argument.

  • #send: Calls the given method in self with the given argument.

  • #to_s: Returns a string representation of self.

Instance Attribute Summary

::Kernel - Included

#frozen?

Returns the freeze status of obj.

Instance Method Summary

::Kernel - Included

#class

Returns the class of obj.

#clone

Produces a shallow copy of obj—the instance variables of obj are copied, but not the objects they reference.

#tap

Yields self to the block, and then returns self.

#then

Yields self to the block and returns the result of the block.

#yield_self

Alias for Kernel#then.

#Float

Returns arg converted to a float.

#Integer

Returns an integer converted from object.

#loop

Repeatedly executes the block.

#pp

Alias for Kernel#pp.

#warn

If warnings have been disabled (for example with the -W0 flag), does nothing.

#with_yjit

Internal helper for builtin inits to define methods only when YJIT is enabled.

Instance Attribute Details

#nil?Boolean (readonly)

Only the object nil responds true to nil?.

Object.new.nil?   #=> false
nil.nil?          #=> true
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 1657

VALUE
rb_false(VALUE obj)
{
    return Qfalse;
}

Instance Method Details

#!~(other) ⇒ Boolean

Returns true if two objects do not match (using the =~ method), otherwise false.

[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 1671

static VALUE
rb_obj_not_match(VALUE obj1, VALUE obj2)
{
    VALUE result = rb_funcall(obj1, id_match, 1, obj2);
    return rb_obj_not(result);
}

#<=>(other) ⇒ 0?

Returns 0 if obj and other are the same object or obj == other, otherwise nil.

The #<=> is used by various methods to compare objects, for example Enumerable#sort, Enumerable#max etc.

Your implementation of #<=> should return one of the following values: -1, 0, 1 or nil. -1 means self is smaller than other. 0 means self is equal to other. 1 means self is bigger than other. Nil means the two values could not be compared.

When you define #<=>, you can include ::Comparable to gain the methods #<=, #<, #==, #>=, #> and #between?.

[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 1697

static VALUE
rb_obj_cmp(VALUE obj1, VALUE obj2)
{
    if (rb_equal(obj1, obj2))
        return INT2FIX(0);
    return Qnil;
}

#===

[ GitHub ]

#define_singleton_method(symbol, method) ⇒ Symbol #define_singleton_method(symbol) ⇒ Symbol

Defines a public singleton method in the receiver. The method parameter can be a ::Proc, a ::Method or an ::UnboundMethod object. If a block is specified, it is used as the method body. If a block or a method has parameters, they’re used as method parameters.

class A
  class << self
    def class_name
      to_s
    end
  end
end
A.define_singleton_method(:who_am_i) do
  "I am: #{class_name}"
end
A.who_am_i   # ==> "I am: A"

guy = "Bob"
guy.define_singleton_method(:hello) { "#{self}: Hello there!" }
guy.hello    #=>  "Bob: Hello there!"

chris = "Chris"
chris.define_singleton_method(:greet) {|greeting| "#{greeting}, I'm Chris!" }
chris.greet("Hi") #=> "Hi, I'm Chris!"
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# File 'proc.c', line 2357

static VALUE
rb_obj_define_method(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    VALUE klass = rb_singleton_class(obj);
    const rb_scope_visibility_t scope_visi = {METHOD_VISI_PUBLIC, FALSE};

    return rb_mod_define_method_with_visibility(argc, argv, klass, &scope_visi);
}

#display(port = $>) ⇒ nil

Writes self on the given port:

1.display
"cat".display
[ 4, 5, 6 ].display
puts

Output:

1cat[4, 5, 6]
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# File 'io.c', line 9081

static VALUE
rb_obj_display(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
{
    VALUE out;

    out = (!rb_check_arity(argc, 0, 1) ? rb_ractor_stdout() : argv[0]);
    rb_io_write(out, self);

    return Qnil;
}

#dupObject

Produces a shallow copy of obj—the instance variables of obj are copied, but not the objects they reference.

This method may have class-specific behavior. If so, that behavior will be documented under the #initialize_copy method of the class.

on dup vs clone

In general, #clone and #dup may have different semantics in descendant classes. While #clone is used to duplicate an object, including its internal state, #dup typically uses the class of the descendant object to create the new instance.

When using #dup, any modules that the object has been extended with will not be copied.

class Klass
  attr_accessor :str
end

module Foo
  def foo; 'foo'; end
end

s1 = Klass.new #=> #<Klass:0x401b3a38>
s1.extend(Foo) #=> #<Klass:0x401b3a38>
s1.foo #=> "foo"

s2 = s1.clone #=> #<Klass:0x401be280>
s2.foo #=> "foo"

s3 = s1.dup #=> #<Klass:0x401c1084>
s3.foo #=> NoMethodError: undefined method `foo' for #<Klass:0x401c1084>
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# File 'object.c', line 623

VALUE
rb_obj_dup(VALUE obj)
{
    VALUE dup;

    if (special_object_p(obj)) {
        return obj;
    }
    dup = rb_obj_alloc(rb_obj_class(obj));
    return rb_obj_dup_setup(obj, dup);
}

#to_enum(method = :each, *args) ⇒ Enumerator #enum_for(method = :each, *args) ⇒ Enumerator #to_enum(method = :each, *args) {|*args| ... } ⇒ Enumerator #enum_for(method = :each, *args) {|*args| ... } ⇒ Enumerator

Alias for #to_enum.

#eql?(other) ⇒ Boolean

Alias for BasicObject#==.

#extend(module, ...) ⇒ Object

Adds to obj the instance methods from each module given as a parameter.

module Mod
  def hello
    "Hello from Mod.\n"
  end
end

class Klass
  def hello
    "Hello from Klass.\n"
  end
end

k = Klass.new
k.hello         #=> "Hello from Klass.\n"
k.extend(Mod)   #=> #<Klass:0x401b3bc8>
k.hello         #=> "Hello from Mod.\n"
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'eval.c', line 1814

static VALUE
rb_obj_extend(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    int i;
    ID id_extend_object, id_extended;

    CONST_ID(id_extend_object, "extend_object");
    CONST_ID(id_extended, "extended");

    rb_check_arity(argc, 1, UNLIMITED_ARGUMENTS);
    for (i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
        Check_Type(argv[i], T_MODULE);
        if (FL_TEST(argv[i], RMODULE_IS_REFINEMENT)) {
            rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "Cannot extend object with refinement");
        }
    }
    while (argc--) {
        rb_funcall(argv[argc], id_extend_object, 1, obj);
        rb_funcall(argv[argc], id_extended, 1, obj);
    }
    return obj;
}

#freezeObject

Prevents further modifications to obj. A ::FrozenError will be raised if modification is attempted. There is no way to unfreeze a frozen object. See also Object#frozen?.

This method returns self.

a = [ "a", "b", "c" ]
a.freeze
a << "z"

produces:

prog.rb:3:in `<<': can't modify frozen Array (FrozenError)
 from prog.rb:3

Objects of the following classes are always frozen: ::Integer, ::Float, ::Symbol.

[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 1316

VALUE
rb_obj_freeze(VALUE obj)
{
    if (!OBJ_FROZEN(obj)) {
        OBJ_FREEZE(obj);
        if (SPECIAL_CONST_P(obj)) {
            rb_bug("special consts should be frozen.");
        }
    }
    return obj;
}

#hashInteger

Generates an ::Integer hash value for this object. This function must have the property that a.eql?(b) implies a.hash == b.hash.

The hash value is used along with #eql? by the ::Hash class to determine if two objects reference the same hash key. Any hash value that exceeds the capacity of an ::Integer will be truncated before being used.

The hash value for an object may not be identical across invocations or implementations of Ruby. If you need a stable identifier across Ruby invocations and implementations you will need to generate one with a custom method.

Certain core classes such as ::Integer use built-in hash calculations and do not call the #hash method when used as a hash key.

When implementing your own #hash based on multiple values, the best practice is to combine the class and any values using the hash code of an array:

For example:

def hash
  [self.class, a, b, c].hash
end

The reason for this is that the Array#hash method already has logic for safely and efficiently combining multiple hash values.

[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'hash.c', line 363

VALUE
rb_obj_hash(VALUE obj)
{
    long hnum = any_hash(obj, objid_hash);
    return ST2FIX(hnum);
}

#initialize_clone(*args)

This method is for internal use only.
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 703

static VALUE
rb_obj_init_clone(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    VALUE orig, opts;
    if (rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "1:", &orig, &opts) < argc) {
        /* Ignore a freeze keyword */
        rb_get_freeze_opt(1, &opts);
    }
    rb_funcall(obj, id_init_copy, 1, orig);
    return obj;
}

#initialize_copy(orig)

This method is for internal use only.
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 666

VALUE
rb_obj_init_copy(VALUE obj, VALUE orig)
{
    if (obj == orig) return obj;
    rb_check_frozen(obj);
    if (TYPE(obj) != TYPE(orig) || rb_obj_class(obj) != rb_obj_class(orig)) {
        rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "initialize_copy should take same class object");
    }
    return obj;
}

#initialize_dup(orig)

This method is for internal use only.
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 686

VALUE
rb_obj_init_dup_clone(VALUE obj, VALUE orig)
{
    rb_funcall(obj, id_init_copy, 1, orig);
    return obj;
}

#inspectString

Returns a string containing a human-readable representation of obj. The default #inspect shows the object’s class name, an encoding of its memory address, and a list of the instance variables and their values (by calling #inspect on each of them). User defined classes should override this method to provide a better representation of obj. When overriding this method, it should return a string whose encoding is compatible with the default external encoding.

[ 1, 2, 3..4, 'five' ].inspect   #=> "[1, 2, 3..4, \"five\"]"
Time.new.inspect                 #=> "2008-03-08 19:43:39 +0900"

class Foo
end
Foo.new.inspect                  #=> "#<Foo:0x0300c868>"

class Bar
  def initialize
    @bar = 1
  end
end
Bar.new.inspect                  #=> "#<Bar:0x0300c868 @bar=1>"
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 816

static VALUE
rb_obj_inspect(VALUE obj)
{
    if (rb_ivar_count(obj) > 0) {
        VALUE str;
        VALUE c = rb_class_name(CLASS_OF(obj));

        str = rb_sprintf("-<%"PRIsVALUE":%p", c, (void*)obj);
        return rb_exec_recursive(inspect_obj, obj, str);
    }
    else {
        return rb_any_to_s(obj);
    }
}

#instance_of?(class) ⇒ Boolean

Returns true if obj is an instance of the given class. See also #kind_of?.

class A;     end
class B < A; end
class C < B; end

b = B.new
b.instance_of? A   #=> false
b.instance_of? B   #=> true
b.instance_of? C   #=> false
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 865

VALUE
rb_obj_is_instance_of(VALUE obj, VALUE c)
{
    c = class_or_module_required(c);
    return RBOOL(rb_obj_class(obj) == c);
}

#instance_variable_defined?(symbol) ⇒ Boolean #instance_variable_defined?(string) ⇒ Boolean

Returns true if the given instance variable is defined in obj. ::String arguments are converted to symbols.

class Fred
  def initialize(p1, p2)
    @a, @b = p1, p2
  end
end
fred = Fred.new('cat', 99)
fred.instance_variable_defined?(:@a)    #=> true
fred.instance_variable_defined?("@b")   #=> true
fred.instance_variable_defined?("@c")   #=> false
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# File 'object.c', line 2974

static VALUE
rb_obj_ivar_defined(VALUE obj, VALUE iv)
{
    ID id = id_for_var(obj, iv, instance);

    if (!id) {
        return Qfalse;
    }
    return rb_ivar_defined(obj, id);
}

#instance_variable_get(symbol) ⇒ Object #instance_variable_get(string) ⇒ Object

Returns the value of the given instance variable, or nil if the instance variable is not set. The @ part of the variable name should be included for regular instance variables. Throws a ::NameError exception if the supplied symbol is not valid as an instance variable name. ::String arguments are converted to symbols.

class Fred
  def initialize(p1, p2)
    @a, @b = p1, p2
  end
end
fred = Fred.new('cat', 99)
fred.instance_variable_get(:@a)    #=> "cat"
fred.instance_variable_get("@b")   #=> 99
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 2912

static VALUE
rb_obj_ivar_get(VALUE obj, VALUE iv)
{
    ID id = id_for_var(obj, iv, instance);

    if (!id) {
        return Qnil;
    }
    return rb_ivar_get(obj, id);
}

#instance_variable_set(symbol, obj) ⇒ Object #instance_variable_set(string, obj) ⇒ Object

Sets the instance variable named by symbol to the given object. This may circumvent the encapsulation intended by the author of the class, so it should be used with care. The variable does not have to exist prior to this call. If the instance variable name is passed as a string, that string is converted to a symbol.

class Fred
  def initialize(p1, p2)
    @a, @b = p1, p2
  end
end
fred = Fred.new('cat', 99)
fred.instance_variable_set(:@a, 'dog')   #=> "dog"
fred.instance_variable_set(:@c, 'cat')   #=> "cat"
fred.inspect                             #=> "#<Fred:0x401b3da8 @a=\"dog\", @b=99, @c=\"cat\">"
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 2946

static VALUE
rb_obj_ivar_set_m(VALUE obj, VALUE iv, VALUE val)
{
    ID id = id_for_var(obj, iv, instance);
    if (!id) id = rb_intern_str(iv);
    return rb_ivar_set(obj, id, val);
}

#instance_variablesArray

Returns an array of instance variable names for the receiver. Note that simply defining an accessor does not create the corresponding instance variable.

class Fred
  attr_accessor :a1
  def initialize
    @iv = 3
  end
end
Fred.new.instance_variables   #=> [:@iv]
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'variable.c', line 2194

VALUE
rb_obj_instance_variables(VALUE obj)
{
    VALUE ary;

    ary = rb_ary_new();
    rb_ivar_foreach(obj, ivar_i, ary);
    return ary;
}

#is_a?(class) ⇒ Boolean #kind_of?(class) ⇒ Boolean
Also known as: #kind_of?

Returns true if class is the class of obj, or if class is one of the superclasses of obj or modules included in obj.

module M;    end
class A
  include M
end
class B < A; end
class C < B; end

b = B.new
b.is_a? A          #=> true
b.is_a? B          #=> true
b.is_a? C          #=> false
b.is_a? M          #=> true

b.kind_of? A       #=> true
b.kind_of? B       #=> true
b.kind_of? C       #=> false
b.kind_of? M       #=> true
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 921

VALUE
rb_obj_is_kind_of(VALUE obj, VALUE c)
{
    VALUE cl = CLASS_OF(obj);

    RUBY_ASSERT(RB_TYPE_P(cl, T_CLASS));

    // Fastest path: If the object's class is an exact match we know `c` is a
    // class without checking type and can return immediately.
    if (cl == c) return Qtrue;

    // Note: YJIT needs this function to never allocate and never raise when
    // `c` is a class or a module.

    if (LIKELY(RB_TYPE_P(c, T_CLASS))) {
        // Fast path: Both are T_CLASS
        return class_search_class_ancestor(cl, c);
    }
    else if (RB_TYPE_P(c, T_ICLASS)) {
        // First check if we inherit the includer
        // If we do we can return true immediately
        VALUE includer = RCLASS_INCLUDER(c);
        if (cl == includer) return Qtrue;

        // Usually includer is a T_CLASS here, except when including into an
        // already included Module.
        // If it is a class, attempt the fast class-to-class check and return
        // true if there is a match.
        if (RB_TYPE_P(includer, T_CLASS) && class_search_class_ancestor(cl, includer))
            return Qtrue;

        // We don't include the ICLASS directly, so must check if we inherit
        // the module via another include
        return RBOOL(class_search_ancestor(cl, RCLASS_ORIGIN(c)));
    }
    else if (RB_TYPE_P(c, T_MODULE)) {
        // Slow path: check each ancestor in the linked list and its method table
        return RBOOL(class_search_ancestor(cl, RCLASS_ORIGIN(c)));
    }
    else {
        rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "class or module required");
        UNREACHABLE_RETURN(Qfalse);
    }
}

#itselfObject

Returns the receiver.

string = "my string"
string.itself.object_id == string.object_id   #=> true
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 646

static VALUE
rb_obj_itself(VALUE obj)
{
    return obj;
}

#is_a?(class) ⇒ Boolean #kind_of?(class) ⇒ Boolean

Alias for #is_a?.

#method(sym) ⇒ method

Looks up the named method as a receiver in obj, returning a ::Method object (or raising ::NameError). The Method object acts as a closure in obj’s object instance, so instance variables and the value of self remain available.

class Demo
  def initialize(n)
    @iv = n
  end
  def hello()
    "Hello, @iv = #{@iv}"
  end
end

k = Demo.new(99)
m = k.method(:hello)
m.call   #=> "Hello, @iv = 99"

l = Demo.new('Fred')
m = l.method("hello")
m.call   #=> "Hello, @iv = Fred"

Note that ::Method implements to_proc method, which means it can be used with iterators.

[ 1, 2, 3 ].each(&method(:puts)) # => prints 3 lines to stdout

out = File.open('test.txt', 'w')
[ 1, 2, 3 ].each(&out.method(:puts)) # => prints 3 lines to file

require 'date'
%w[2017-03-01 2017-03-02].collect(&Date.method(:parse))
#=> [#<Date: 2017-03-01 ((2457814j,0s,0n),+0s,2299161j)>, #<Date: 2017-03-02 ((2457815j,0s,0n),+0s,2299161j)>]
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'proc.c', line 2047

VALUE
rb_obj_method(VALUE obj, VALUE vid)
{
    return obj_method(obj, vid, FALSE);
}

#methods(regular = true) ⇒ Array

Returns a list of the names of public and protected methods of obj. This will include all the methods accessible in obj’s ancestors. If the optional parameter is false, it returns an array of obj’s public and protected singleton methods, the array will not include methods in modules included in obj.

class Klass
  def klass_method()
  end
end
k = Klass.new
k.methods[0..9]    #=> [:klass_method, :nil?, :===,
                   #    :==~, :!, :eql?
                   #    :hash, :<=>, :class, :singleton_class]
k.methods.length   #=> 56

k.methods(false)   #=> []
def k.singleton_method; end
k.methods(false)   #=> [:singleton_method]

module M123; def m123; end end
k.extend M123
k.methods(false)   #=> [:singleton_method]
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'class.c', line 2002

VALUE
rb_obj_methods(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    rb_check_arity(argc, 0, 1);
    if (argc > 0 && !RTEST(argv[0])) {
        return rb_obj_singleton_methods(argc, argv, obj);
    }
    return class_instance_method_list(argc, argv, CLASS_OF(obj), 1, ins_methods_i);
}

#object_idInteger

Alias for BasicObject#__id__.

#private_methods(all = true) ⇒ Array

Returns the list of private methods accessible to obj. If the all parameter is set to false, only those methods in the receiver will be listed.

[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'class.c', line 2036

VALUE
rb_obj_private_methods(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    return class_instance_method_list(argc, argv, CLASS_OF(obj), 1, ins_methods_priv_i);
}

#protected_methods(all = true) ⇒ Array

Returns the list of protected methods accessible to obj. If the all parameter is set to false, only those methods in the receiver will be listed.

[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'class.c', line 2021

VALUE
rb_obj_protected_methods(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    return class_instance_method_list(argc, argv, CLASS_OF(obj), 1, ins_methods_prot_i);
}

#public_method(sym) ⇒ method

Similar to method, searches public method only.

[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'proc.c', line 2060

VALUE
rb_obj_public_method(VALUE obj, VALUE vid)
{
    return obj_method(obj, vid, TRUE);
}

#public_methods(all = true) ⇒ Array

Returns the list of public methods accessible to obj. If the all parameter is set to false, only those methods in the receiver will be listed.

[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'class.c', line 2051

VALUE
rb_obj_public_methods(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    return class_instance_method_list(argc, argv, CLASS_OF(obj), 1, ins_methods_pub_i);
}

#public_send(symbol [, args...]) ⇒ Object #public_send(string [, args...]) ⇒ Object

Invokes the method identified by symbol, passing it any arguments specified. Unlike send, public_send calls public methods only. When the method is identified by a string, the string is converted to a symbol.

1.public_send(:puts, "hello")  # causes NoMethodError
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# File 'vm_eval.c', line 1327

static VALUE
rb_f_public_send(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE recv)
{
    return send_internal_kw(argc, argv, recv, CALL_PUBLIC);
}

#remove_instance_variable(symbol) ⇒ Object #remove_instance_variable(string) ⇒ Object

Removes the named instance variable from obj, returning that variable’s value. The name can be passed as a symbol or as a string.

class Dummy
  attr_reader :var
  def initialize
    @var = 99
  end
  def remove
    remove_instance_variable(:@var)
  end
end
d = Dummy.new
d.var      #=> 99
d.remove   #=> 99
d.var      #=> nil
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'variable.c', line 2248

VALUE
rb_obj_remove_instance_variable(VALUE obj, VALUE name)
{
    const ID id = id_for_var(obj, name, an, instance);

    // Frozen check comes here because it's expected that we raise a
    // NameError (from the id_for_var check) before we raise a FrozenError
    rb_check_frozen(obj);

    if (id) {
        VALUE val = rb_ivar_delete(obj, id, Qundef);

        if (!UNDEF_P(val)) return val;
    }

    rb_name_err_raise("instance variable %1$s not defined",
                      obj, name);
    UNREACHABLE_RETURN(Qnil);
}

#respond_to?(symbol, include_all = false) ⇒ Boolean #respond_to?(string, include_all = false) ⇒ Boolean

Returns true if obj responds to the given method. Private and protected methods are included in the search only if the optional second parameter evaluates to true.

If the method is not implemented, as Process.fork on Windows, File.lchmod on GNU/Linux, etc., false is returned.

If the method is not defined, #respond_to_missing? method is called and the result is returned.

When the method name parameter is given as a string, the string is converted to a symbol.

[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'vm_method.c', line 2981

static VALUE
obj_respond_to(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    VALUE mid, priv;
    ID id;
    rb_execution_context_t *ec = GET_EC();

    rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "11", &mid, &priv);
    if (!(id = rb_check_id(&mid))) {
        VALUE ret = basic_obj_respond_to_missing(ec, CLASS_OF(obj), obj,
                                                 rb_to_symbol(mid), priv);
        if (UNDEF_P(ret)) ret = Qfalse;
        return ret;
    }
    return  RBOOL(basic_obj_respond_to(ec, obj, id, !RTEST(priv)));
}

#respond_to_missing?(symbol, include_all) ⇒ Boolean #respond_to_missing?(string, include_all) ⇒ Boolean

DO NOT USE THIS DIRECTLY.

Hook method to return whether the obj can respond to id method or not.

When the method name parameter is given as a string, the string is converted to a symbol.

See #respond_to?, and the example of ::BasicObject.

[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'vm_method.c', line 3013

static VALUE
obj_respond_to_missing(VALUE obj, VALUE mid, VALUE priv)
{
    return Qfalse;
}

#send(symbol [, args...]) ⇒ Object #send(string [, args...]) ⇒ Object

Alias for BasicObject#__send__. Invokes the method identified by symbol, passing it any arguments specified. When the method is identified by a string, the string is converted to a symbol.

::BasicObject implements __send__, ::Kernel implements send. __send__ is safer than send when obj has the same method name like Socket. See also #public_send.

class Klass
  def hello(*args)
    "Hello " + args.join(' ')
  end
end
k = Klass.new
k.send :hello, "gentle", "readers"   #=> "Hello gentle readers"

#singleton_classclass

Returns the singleton class of obj. This method creates a new singleton class if obj does not have one.

If obj is nil, true, or false, it returns ::NilClass, ::TrueClass, or ::FalseClass, respectively. If obj is an ::Integer, a ::Float or a ::Symbol, it raises a ::TypeError.

Object.new.singleton_class  #=> #<Class:#<Object:0xb7ce1e24>>
String.singleton_class      #=> #<Class:String>
nil.singleton_class         #=> NilClass
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 319

static VALUE
rb_obj_singleton_class(VALUE obj)
{
    return rb_singleton_class(obj);
}

#singleton_method(sym) ⇒ method

Similar to method, searches singleton method only.

class Demo
  def initialize(n)
    @iv = n
  end
  def hello()
    "Hello, @iv = #{@iv}"
  end
end

k = Demo.new(99)
def k.hi
  "Hi, @iv = #{@iv}"
end
m = k.singleton_method(:hi)
m.call   #=> "Hi, @iv = 99"
m = k.singleton_method(:hello) #=> NameError
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'proc.c', line 2103

VALUE
rb_obj_singleton_method(VALUE obj, VALUE vid)
{
    VALUE sc = rb_singleton_class_get(obj);
    VALUE klass;
    ID id = rb_check_id(&vid);

    if (NIL_P(sc) ||
        NIL_P(klass = RCLASS_ORIGIN(sc)) ||
        !NIL_P(rb_special_singleton_class(obj))) {
        /* goto undef; */
    }
    else if (! id) {
        VALUE m = mnew_missing_by_name(klass, obj, &vid, FALSE, rb_cMethod);
        if (m) return m;
        /* else goto undef; */
    }
    else {
        VALUE args[2] = {obj, vid};
        VALUE ruby_method = rb_rescue(rb_obj_singleton_method_lookup, (VALUE)args, rb_obj_singleton_method_lookup_fail, Qfalse);
        if (ruby_method) {
            struct METHOD *method = (struct METHOD *)RTYPEDDATA_GET_DATA(ruby_method);
            VALUE lookup_class = RBASIC_CLASS(obj);
            VALUE stop_class = rb_class_superclass(sc);
            VALUE method_class = method->iclass;

            /* Determine if method is in singleton class, or module included in or prepended to it */
            do {
                if (lookup_class == method_class) {
                    return ruby_method;
                }
                lookup_class = RCLASS_SUPER(lookup_class);
            } while (lookup_class && lookup_class != stop_class);
        }
    }

  /* undef: */
    vid = ID2SYM(id);
    rb_name_err_raise("undefined singleton method '%1$s' for '%2$s'",
                      obj, vid);
    UNREACHABLE_RETURN(Qundef);
}

#singleton_methods(all = true) ⇒ Array

Returns an array of the names of singleton methods for obj. If the optional all parameter is true, the list will include methods in modules included in obj. Only public and protected singleton methods are returned.

module Other
  def three() end
end

class Single
  def Single.four() end
end

a = Single.new

def a.one()
end

class << a
  include Other
  def two()
  end
end

Single.singleton_methods    #=> [:four]
a.singleton_methods(false)  #=> [:two, :one]
a.singleton_methods         #=> [:two, :one, :three]
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'class.c', line 2090

VALUE
rb_obj_singleton_methods(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    VALUE ary, klass, origin;
    struct method_entry_arg me_arg;
    struct rb_id_table *mtbl;
    int recur = TRUE;

    if (rb_check_arity(argc, 0, 1)) recur = RTEST(argv[0]);
    if (RCLASS_SINGLETON_P(obj)) {
        rb_singleton_class(obj);
    }
    klass = CLASS_OF(obj);
    origin = RCLASS_ORIGIN(klass);
    me_arg.list = st_init_numtable();
    me_arg.recur = recur;
    if (klass && RCLASS_SINGLETON_P(klass)) {
        if ((mtbl = RCLASS_M_TBL(origin)) != 0) rb_id_table_foreach(mtbl, method_entry_i, &me_arg);
        klass = RCLASS_SUPER(klass);
    }
    if (recur) {
        while (klass && (RCLASS_SINGLETON_P(klass) || RB_TYPE_P(klass, T_ICLASS))) {
            if (klass != origin && (mtbl = RCLASS_M_TBL(klass)) != 0) rb_id_table_foreach(mtbl, method_entry_i, &me_arg);
            klass = RCLASS_SUPER(klass);
        }
    }
    ary = rb_ary_new2(me_arg.list->num_entries);
    st_foreach(me_arg.list, ins_methods_i, ary);
    st_free_table(me_arg.list);

    return ary;
}

#to_enum(method = :each, *args) ⇒ Enumerator #enum_for(method = :each, *args) ⇒ Enumerator #to_enum(method = :each, *args) {|*args| ... } ⇒ Enumerator #enum_for(method = :each, *args) {|*args| ... } ⇒ Enumerator
Also known as: #enum_for

Creates a new ::Enumerator which will enumerate by calling #method on obj, passing args if any. What was yielded by method becomes values of enumerator.

If a block is given, it will be used to calculate the size of the enumerator without the need to iterate it (see Enumerator#size).

Examples

str = "xyz"

enum = str.enum_for(:each_byte)
enum.each { |b| puts b }
# => 120
# => 121
# => 122

# protect an array from being modified by some_method
a = [1, 2, 3]
some_method(a.to_enum)

# String#split in block form is more memory-effective:
very_large_string.split("|") { |chunk| return chunk if chunk.include?('DATE') }
# This could be rewritten more idiomatically with to_enum:
very_large_string.to_enum(:split, "|").lazy.grep(/DATE/).first

It is typical to call to_enum when defining methods for a generic ::Enumerable, in case no block is passed.

Here is such an example, with parameter passing and a sizing block:

module Enumerable
  # a generic method to repeat the values of any enumerable
  def repeat(n)
    raise ArgumentError, "#{n} is negative!" if n < 0
    unless block_given?
      return to_enum(__method__, n) do # __method__ is :repeat here
        sz = size     # Call size and multiply by n...
        sz * n if sz  # but return nil if size itself is nil
      end
    end
    each do |*val|
      n.times { yield *val }
    end
  end
end

%i[hello world].repeat(2) { |w| puts w }
  # => Prints 'hello', 'hello', 'world', 'world'
enum = (1..14).repeat(3)
  # => returns an Enumerator when called without a block
enum.first(4) # => [1, 1, 1, 2]
enum.size # => 42
[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'enumerator.c', line 381

static VALUE
obj_to_enum(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    VALUE enumerator, meth = sym_each;

    if (argc > 0) {
        --argc;
        meth = *argv++;
    }
    enumerator = rb_enumeratorize_with_size(obj, meth, argc, argv, 0);
    if (rb_block_given_p()) {
        RB_OBJ_WRITE(enumerator, &enumerator_ptr(enumerator)->size, rb_block_proc());
    }
    return enumerator;
}

#to_sString

Returns a string representing obj. The default #to_s prints the object’s class and an encoding of the object id. As a special case, the top-level object that is the initial execution context of Ruby programs returns “main”.

[ GitHub ]

  
# File 'object.c', line 725

VALUE
rb_any_to_s(VALUE obj)
{
    VALUE str;
    VALUE cname = rb_class_name(CLASS_OF(obj));

    str = rb_sprintf("#<%"PRIsVALUE":%p>", cname, (void*)obj);

    return str;
}