Classes

Ruby Modules as Mixins

Modules as Mixins

Ruby modules act as mixins with include and extend.

What Are Mixins in Ruby?

Mixins in Ruby provide a way to add shared functionality across multiple classes without using inheritance. This is achieved by using modules. By including or extending modules, you can inject methods and constants into your classes, enhancing their capabilities.

Using the <code>include</code> Method

The include method is used to add instance methods from a module into a class. This allows objects of that class to access the methods defined in the module.

Using the <code>extend</code> Method

The extend method is used to add methods from a module as class methods. This means the methods become available on the class itself, rather than on its instances.

Combining <code>include</code> and <code>extend</code>

By using both include and extend, you can define both instance and class methods within a single module, providing a flexible approach to sharing functionality.

Benefits of Using Mixins

Code Reusability: Mixins allow you to reuse code across different classes without duplicating it.
Modular Design: By separating functionality into modules, your code becomes more organized and easier to manage.
Flexibility: You can easily add or remove functionalities by including or extending modules in your classes.

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