Classes

Class Code

# Define a class with the class keyword
class Human

  # A class variable is shared by all instances of a class. 
  # (Note: Using it is discouraged)
  @@species = "H. sapiens"

  # Basic initializer (a.k.a. 'constructor')
  def initialize(name, age=18)
    # Assign the argument to the "name" instance variable for the instance
    @name = name
    # If no age passed in, will be given default value of 18 
    @age = age
  end

  # Basic setter method
  def name=(name)
    @name = name
  end

  # Basic getter method
  def name
    @name
  end

  # Ruby has a one-line shortcut for creating a getter and setter:
  attr_accessor :name

  # Getter/setter methods can also be created individually like this
  attr_reader :name
  attr_writer :name

  # A class method uses self to distinguish from instance methods.
  # It can only be called on the class, not an instance.
  def self.say(msg)
    puts "#{msg}"
  end

  def species
    @@species
  end

end

Using Classes and Objects

# Instantiate a class
jim = Human.new("Jim Halpert")    
dwight = Human.new("Dwight K. Schrute")

# Let's call a couple of methods
jim.species #=> "H. sapiens"
jim.name #=> "Jim Halpert"  #calls getters
jim.name = "Jim Halpert II"  #calls setter
#=> "Jim Halpert II"
jim.name #=> "Jim Halpert II"
dwight.species #=> "H. sapiens"
dwight.name #=> "Dwight K. Schrute"

# Call the class method
Human.say("Hi") #=> "Hi"

# Variable's scopes are defined by the way we name them.
# Variables that start with $ have global scope
$var = "I'm a global var"
defined? $var #=> "global-variable"

# Variables that start with @ have instance scope
@var = "I'm an instance var"
defined? @var #=> "instance-variable"

# Variables that start with @@ have class scope
@@var = "I'm a class var"
defined? @@var #=> "class variable"

# Variables that start with a capital letter are constants
Var = "I'm a constant"
defined? Var #=> "constant"

# Class itself is also an object in ruby. So Class can have instance variables.
# Class variable is shared among the class and all of its descendants.

# base class
class Human
  @@foo = 0

  def self.foo
    @@foo
  end

  def self.foo=(value)
    @@foo = value
  end
end

#  derived class
class Worker < Human
end

Human.foo # 0
Worker.foo # 0

Human.foo = 2 # 2
Worker.foo # 2

# Class instance variable is not shared by the class's descendants.

class Human
  @bar = 0

  def self.bar
    @bar
  end

  def self.bar=(value)
    @bar = value
  end
end

class Doctor < Human
end

Human.bar # 0
Doctor.bar # nil