Menu
How can I change the contents of a variable using a method? Maybe I'm not saying this correctly. What is a way to get the reference to a variable like in C? Example:
// main stuff
int gorilla = 29;
makeMeABanana(&gorilla);
void makeMeABanana(int *gorilla) { }
How can I do something like this in Ruby?
939
You can't. Variables defined inside a method are local to that method. If you want to share variables between methods, then you'll need to specify them as member variables of the class. Alternatively, you can pass them from one method to another as arguments (this isn't always applicable).
Remember that a variable holds a value and that value can change or vary. If you use a variable to keep score you would probably increment it (add one to the current value).
Functions can access global variables and modify them. Modifying global variables in a function is considered poor programming practice. It is better to send a variable in as a parameter (or have it be returned in the 'return' statement).
You should not do this - you're just porting techniques that are fully appropriate to C to Ruby, where they are no longer appropriate. There are several fancy ways around this (eg using a Proc closed over your calling namespace, or eval) but they are usually inappropriate in Ruby unless you know precisely what you're doing.
74
If you love us? You can donate to us via Paypal or buy me a coffee so we can maintain and grow! Thank you!
Donate Us With
