From: Rick DeNatale <rick.denatale@...>
Date: 2006-10-15T10:04:56+09:00
Subject: Re: Preferred way to call a class method?

On 10/14/06, Clint Pachl <pachl@ecentryx.com> wrote:
> class Test
>    def self.class_meth
>      'inside class method'
>    end
>
>    def inst_meth1
>      self.class.class_meth
>    end
>
>    def inst_meth2
>      Test.class_meth
>    end
> end
>
> What is the preferred way of calling a class method from within an
> instance method, <Class Object>.<class method> or self.class.<class method>?
>

In the first case the class_meth will be sent to the receivers class,
while in the second it will always be sent to Test.

If there are subclasses of Test there can be a difference

class Test

    def self.class_meth
         puts "Test's class method called"
    end

   def inst_meth1
         self.class.class_meth
   end

   def inst_meth2
         Test.class_meth
   end

end

class Test1 < Test
    def self.class_meth
         puts "Test1's class method called"
    end

end

irb(main):023:0> Test1.new.inst_meth1
Test1's class method called
=> nil
irb(main):024:0> Test1.new.inst_meth2
Test's class method called



-- 
Rick DeNatale

My blog on Ruby
http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/