Consider the following code:
@name = 'learning metaprogramming!'
def cap
@name.upcase # Was expecting to require @@name as the scopes are different like in a class
end
cap # => "LEARNING METAPROGRAMMING!"
Can someone explain, how come I am able to access @name, which I suppose should be the class variable of main.
@name is an instance variable, @@name would be a class variable.
When you define an instance variable outside any explicit class definition, you implicitly are inside the Object space.
➜ ~ irb
2.1.5 :001 > self.class
=> Object
2.1.5 :002 >
Object is an object, more or less like a custom object. Therefore, when you created
@name = 'learning metaprogramming!'
the instance variable @name exists in the scope of the Object. The method definition happens in the same scope, hence you have accesso the instance variable.
cap? Is it the instance method or class method of Object?
@name, does not exist in the scope of Object, it exists in the scope of main.
Object instead of in the scope of Object. Feel free to rephrase it if you feel it's confusing. I believe we are meaning the same thing, it is just a possible lack of English communication skills. ;)
cap is a private instance method of Object.self into the current scope's instance's scope?