class << self idiom in Ruby

Question

What does class << self do in Ruby?

Answer 1

I found a super simple explanation about class << self , Eigenclass and different type of methods.

In Ruby, there are three types of methods that can be applied to a class:

1. Instance methods
2. Singleton methods
3. Class methods

Instance methods and class methods are almost similar to their homonymous in other programming languages.

class Foo  
  def an_instance_method  
    puts "I am an instance method"  
  end  
  def self.a_class_method  
    puts "I am a class method"  
  end  
end

foo = Foo.new

def foo.a_singleton_method
  puts "I am a singletone method"
end

Another way of accessing an Eigenclass(which includes singleton methods) is with the following syntax (class <<):

foo = Foo.new

class << foo
  def a_singleton_method
    puts "I am a singleton method"
  end
end

now you can define a singleton method for self which is the class Foo itself in this context:

class Foo
  class << self
    def a_singleton_and_class_method
      puts "I am a singleton method for self and a class method for Foo"
    end
  end
end