From: Eric Hodel <drbrain@...7.net>
Date: 2004-11-18T04:14:26+09:00
Subject: Re: :: vs # (was: Complete set of callbacks)

On Nov 17, 2004, at 5:51 AM, trans. (T. Onoma) wrote:

> On Wednesday 17 November 2004 06:45 am, trans.  (T. Onoma) wrote:
> | Please help clarify which are instance methods (#) and which are 
> class
> | methods (::).
>
> I see why I'm confused now. Take this example:
>
>   --------------------------------------------------------- 
> Marshal#dump
>
>   <snip>
>
>          o = Klass.new("hello\n")
>          data = Marshal.dump(o)
>          obj = Marshal.load(data)
>          obj.sayHello   #=> "hello\n"
>
>
> Dump is being used as module/class method so shouldn't it be 
> 'Marshal::dump' ?
> The documentation says they are instance methods, but you can't 
> initialize a
> Marshal. What gives?

I've always used :: exclusively for constants, and . for methods.

I much prefer :: over . when referencing method names.