From: Brian Candler <b.candler@...>
Date: 2010-09-16T22:10:39+09:00
Subject: Re: def swfupload_file=(data)

Abder-Rahman Ali wrote:
> Following this tutorial:
> http://jimneath.org/2008/05/15/swfupload-paperclip-and-ruby-on-rails/
> 
> I want to ask about this method definition:
> 
> def swfupload_file=(data)
> 
> What is meant by the =(data) part?

The method's name is "swfupload_file=", and (data) is the one argument 
that the method takes.

Methods with name ending '=' are treated slightly specially. The syntax

   foo.bar = baz

looks like an assignment, but it isn't. It is actually calling method 
"bar=" on object foo, with argument baz. In long-hand it would be

   foo.send(:bar=, baz)

Also, these sorts of methods always return their argument, not the final 
value evaluated or the value on a 'return' statement. That is,

   a = foo.bar = baz

will always set a to baz, regardless of what the method bar= returns.
-- 
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.