Inspired by this discussion, after some googling I wasn't able to find an answer to a pretty simple question regarding methods in Ruby: are methods objects or not?
There are different opinions here and there, and I would really like to hear, let's say, an in-depth explanation.
I'm aware of Object#method
method, which takes a method name and returns a Method
instance, but, on the other hand, there's a similar thing you can do with blocks to make them into Proc
instances, and blocks aren't objects, so what makes methods any different?
Defining & Calling the method: In Ruby, the method defines with the help of def keyword followed by method_name and end with end keyword. A method must be defined before calling and the name of the method should be in lowercase. Methods are simply called by its name.
The short answer is No. Blocks are not objects in Ruby. We need to use Proc, lambda or literal constructor ->, to convert blocks into objects. In Smalltalk, blocks are objects.
Everything in Ruby is an object. All objects have an identity; they can also hold state and manifest behaviour by responding to messages. These messages are normally dispatched through method calls. A string is an example of a Ruby object.
Practically everything in Ruby is an Object, with the exception of control structures. Whether or not under the covers a method, code block or operator is or isn't an Object, they are represented as Objects and can be thought of as such.
Methods are a fundamental part of Ruby's syntax, but they are not values that Ruby programs can operate on. That is, Ruby's methods are not objects in the way that strings, numbers, and arrays are. It is possible, however, to obtain a Method object that represents a given method, and we can invoke methods indirectly through Method objects.
From The Ruby Programming Language:
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