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Ruby Methods are a fundamental aspect of Ruby programming, acting as reusable blocks of code designed to perform specific tasks. Ruby encapsulates code within methods and enables more precise, organised programming. Methods in Ruby can take parameters and return values and offer flexibility through features like default and variable arguments.
They are easily invoked by their name, enhancing the readability and maintainability of code. Understanding how to define and use methods is essential for any Ruby programmer, as they play a critical role in structuring code and implementing functionality efficiently and effectively. Read this blog to learn more!
Table of Contents
1) What is the Ruby Method?
2) Return values from Methods
3) Ruby return Statement
4) Methods Within Classes
5) Ruby alias Statement
6) Ruby undef Statement
7) Conclusion
What is the Ruby Method?
A Ruby Method is a set of expressions that returns a value. In Ruby, methods can bundle one or more repeatable statements into a single unit. Ruby Methods are defined using the ‘def’ keyword and the method name. They can take arguments and return a value. Methods in Ruby are crucial for organising and reusing code, making it more readable and maintainable.
Ruby Methods can yield blocks, providing a powerful way to abstract functionality and customise behaviour. The last evaluated statement in the method is automatically returned by the method unless an explicit return statement is used. This feature contributes to Ruby's expressive and concise nature. Let’s see how:
Syntax
The basic syntax for defining a method in Ruby is:
def method_name(arguments) # code to be executed end |
The parentheses can be omitted if the method doesn't take any arguments. Arguments can be defined with default values, and Ruby also supports splat arguments for a variable number of arguments.
Illustrative example
Consider a simple method that calculates the sum of two numbers:
def sum(a, b) a + b end puts sum(5, 3) # Output: 8 |
In this example, ‘sum’ is the method name, and ‘a’ and ‘b’ are parameters. The method adds these two parameters and returns their sum. The ‘puts sum(5, 3)’ line calls the method with arguments 5 and 3 and prints the result, which is 8. This example illustrates the basic structure and usage of a method in Ruby.
Return values from Methods
In Ruby, every method returns a value. The returned value is the result of the last evaluated expression in the method unless an explicit ‘return’ statement is used to specify a different return value. This implicit return feature is a distinctive aspect of Ruby, making the language expressive and concise.
For example, consider a method that calculates the square of a number:
def square(number) number * number end |
In this method, ‘number * number’ is the last evaluated expression, and its result is automatically returned when the method is called. Therefore, ‘square(4)’ would return 16.
However, Ruby also allows using the return keyword to specify the return value explicitly. This is particularly useful when you need to return early from a method:
def check_positive(number) return 'Number is zero' if number == 0 number > 0 ? 'Positive' : 'Negative' end |
In this example, if ‘number’ is zero, the method returns 'Number is zero' immediately. Otherwise, it evaluates the ternary operation and returns 'Positive' or 'Negative' based on the number's value. The explicit ‘return’ is useful for branching and conditional logic within methods.
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Ruby return Statement
In Ruby, the ‘return’ statement explicitly specifies the value to be returned by a method. If no ‘return’ statement is used, a Ruby Method automatically returns the value of the last evaluated expression
Syntax
In Ruby, the ‘return’ statement exits a method and returns a specific value to the method's caller. The syntax for the return statement is straightforward: ‘return’ followed by the value or expression you want to return. If no value or expression follows ‘return’, the method returns ‘nil’.
def method_name # ... return value end |
The ‘return’ keyword is optional when it appears at the end of a method because Ruby implicitly returns the value of the last evaluated expression.
Illustrative example
Consider a method that determines the type of a given number:
def number_type(num) return 'positive' if num > 0 return 'negative' if num < 0 'zero' end puts number_type(10) # Output: positive puts number_type(-5) # Output: negative puts number_type(0) # Output: zero |
In this example, ‘return’ is used to exit the method immediately with a specific string when a condition is met. The method implicitly returns ' zero ' if none of the conditions are met.
Methods within classes
In Ruby, methods are commonly defined within classes. These methods, known as instance methods, are associated with instances of the class. They can access and modify the state of the object to which they belong.
The ‘def’ keyword is used inside a class definition to define a method within a class. The process can then be called on instances of that class.
Here's an example:
class Calculator def add(a, b) a + b end end calc = Calculator.new puts calc.add(5, 3) # Output: 8 |
In this example, ‘add’ is an instance method of the ‘Calculator’ class. It adds two numbers and returns the result. An instance of ‘Calculator’ is created, and the ‘add’ method is called on it.
Ruby alias statement
In Ruby, the ‘alias’ statement creates a new name or alias for an existing method or global variable, allowing the original name and the alias to be used interchangeably. This feature helps enhance readability or modify behaviour while maintaining compatibility with existing code.
Syntax
Ruby's ‘alias’ statement creates an alias for a method or global variable. The syntax is ‘alias new_name old_name’. It allows a method or global variable to be referred to by two names.
alias new_method_name old_method_name
Illustrative example
class Greeting def hello "Hello!" end alias greet hello end g = Greeting.new puts g.hello # Output: Hello! puts g.greet # Output: Hello! |
In this example, the ‘greet’ method is an alias for the ‘hello’ method in the ‘Greeting’ class. Both ‘g.hello’ and ‘g.greet’ call the same method.
Ruby undef Statement
In Ruby, the ‘undef’ statement is used to undefine a method defined in a class, rendering the method inaccessible from instances of that class. This statement is useful for modifying or restricting the interface of a class, especially when subclassing or mixing modules.
Syntax
undef method_name
Illustrative example
class Example def greet "Hello!" end def farewell "Goodbye!" end undef farewell end e = Example.new puts e.greet # Output: Hello! puts e.farewell # This will raise a NoMethodError |
In this example, the ‘farewell’ method is undefined using the ‘undef’ statement. Trying to call ‘farewell’ on an instance of ‘Example’ will result in a ‘NoMethodError’, as the method no longer exists in the class.
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Conclusion
Ruby Methods are essential building blocks in Ruby programming, enabling code reusability, organisation, and clarity. They support flexibility through default, variable arguments, block usage, and enhancing code functionality. Mastering Ruby Methods is critical to effective, efficient programming, making them indispensable tools in any Ruby developer's toolkit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ruby is a dynamic, open-source programming language focusing on simplicity and productivity. It has an elegant syntax, is very natural to read, and is easy to write. Ruby is known for its use in web development, particularly with the Rails framework, and its strong support for object-oriented programming.
Ruby is a dynamic, open-source programming language focusing on simplicity and productivity. It has an elegant syntax, is very natural to read, and is easy to write. Ruby is known for its use in web development, particularly with the Rails framework, and its strong support for object-oriented programming.
The Defined Ruby Method is a set of instructions encapsulated within a named block using the ‘def’ keyword. It performs specific tasks and can be invoked on objects. Methods can take parameters and return values, facilitating code reuse, modularity, and maintainability in Ruby programming.
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