From: Robert Klemme <bob.news@...>
Date: 2003-01-21T17:55:48+09:00
Subject: Re: Local variable scope

this one works as expected:

irb(main):001:0> @@foo = "bar"
"bar"
irb(main):002:0> def function
irb(main):003:1>   puts @@foo
irb(main):004:1> end
nil
irb(main):005:0> function
bar
nil
irb(main):006:0>

Note the "@@" which makes "foo" a module variable in the current module,
which thus can be seen by method "function".

Regards

    robert

"Phil Tomson" <ptkwt@shell1.aracnet.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:b0hori02poj@enews2.newsguy.com...
> In article <20030120193158.GA1029@math.umd.edu>,
> Daniel Carrera  <dcarrera@math.umd.edu> wrote:
> >I'm a bit confused by the scope of local variables.
> >
> >$ irb --simple-pompt
> >>> foo = "bar"
> >=> "bar"
> >>> def function
> >>>     puts foo
> >>> end
> >=> nil
> >>> function
> >NameError: undefined local variable or method `foo' for
#<Object:0xf9000>
> >        from (irb):3:in `function'
> >        from (irb):5
> >
> >Since 'foo' was defined before 'function' and both 'function' and 'foo'
> >are in the same scope (I think) shouldn't 'function' see 'foo'?
>
> That's kind of how Perl's scoping works, but not Ruby.  The scope inside
> your def function is different from the scope outside.  So inside of
> method 'function' there is no 'knowledge' of the foo variable that was
> defined outside.
>
> Phil
> --
> "Or perhaps the truth is less interesting than the facts?"
> Amy Weiss (accusing theregister.co.uk of engaging in 'tabloid
journalism')
> Senior VP, Communications
> Recording Industry Association of America