From: Robert Klemme <shortcutter@...>
Date: 2009-06-16T02:05:06+09:00
Subject: Re: confusion about object method scoping

On 15.06.2009 18:56, Christopher Carver wrote:
> Thanks!  That worked.  It's actually computing the factorial (sum of
> all digits leading up to the argument).  Can you give me a term for
> what is going on in your example with the "<<" notation?  I'd like to
> read about it and understand it more.  I'm a bit new to Ruby.

It's the singleton class of the class instance.  I know this sounds a 
bit weird but every object in Ruby has this singleton class and since 
classes are objects, too, they do so as well.  Methods defined in the 
singleton class methods of that instance only.  So basically these two 
are equivalent:

o = ... # any object
def o.meth
end

class <<o
   def meth
   end
end

Kind regards

	robert

-- 
remember.guy do |as, often| as.you_can - without end
http://blog.rubybestpractices.com/