Classes

Ruby Classes

Defining Ruby Classes

Ruby classes use class with instance variables and methods.

Introduction to Ruby Classes

In Ruby, a class is a blueprint from which objects are created. A class encapsulates data for the object and methods to manipulate that data. This is a fundamental concept of object-oriented programming (OOP).

Classes in Ruby are defined using the class keyword, followed by the class name. By convention, class names in Ruby are written in CamelCase.

Defining Instance Variables

Instance variables are defined using the @ symbol and are available throughout the current instance of the object. They hold data that is unique to each instance of a class.

Below is an example of a Ruby class with instance variables:

Creating Methods in Ruby Classes

Methods in a class are used to perform operations on the object's data. They can be defined using the def keyword. Below is an example of adding a method to our Car class:

Creating Objects from Classes

Once a class is defined, you can create objects (or instances) from it. Each object can have its own unique set of instance variables and can call the methods defined in the class. Here’s how you can create an object from the Car class:

Conclusion

Understanding how to create and use classes in Ruby is fundamental to mastering object-oriented programming in this language. Classes allow you to encapsulate data and behavior, leading to reusable and organized code. In the next post, we will explore Inheritance in Ruby, building upon the concepts covered here.

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