Why isn't the eigenclass equivalent to self.class, when it looks so similar?
- by The Wicked Flea
I've missed the memo somewhere, and I hope you'll explain this to me.
Why is the eigenclass of an object different from self.class?
class Foo
def initialize(symbol)
eigenclass = class << self
self
end
eigenclass.class_eval do
attr_accessor symbol
end
end
end
My train of logic that equates the eigenclass with class.self is rather simple:
class << self is a way of declaring class methods, rather than instance methods. It's a shortcut to def Foo.bar.
So within the reference to the class object, returning self should be identical to self.class. This is because class << self would set self to Foo.class for definition of class methods/attributes.
Am I just confused? Or, is this a sneaky trick of Ruby meta-programming?
