From: Tim Hunter <cyclists@...>
Date: 2002-12-23T07:20:41+09:00
Subject: Re: attr_reader, etc.

Check the Pickaxe p. 24, or online
http://www.rubycentral.com/book/tut_classes.html, under the heading
"Objects and Attributes".

There's not really much to say. The attr_reader method creates an
instance variable and a method that returns its value. The attr_writer
method creates an instance variable and a method that sets its value. The
attr_accessor method does both.

class MyClass
	attr_reader :foo
end

is shorthand for

class MyClass
	def foo
	   @foo
	end
end

Similarly,

class MyClass
	attr_writer :foo
end

is shorthand for

class MyClass
	def foo=(f)
	   @foo=f
	end
end

and finally

class MyClass
	attr_accessor :foo
end

is shorthand for

class MyClass
	def foo
	   @foo
        end
	def foo=(f)
	   @foo=f
	end
end



On Mon, 23 Dec 2002 05:13:35 +0900, gtzi wrote:

> I'm having some confusion with the use of 
> attr_reader/writer/accessor,etc.
> Could someone point me to a document that explains clearly, and in 
> depth?