Add method to an instanced object

Question

obj = SomeObject.new

def obj.new_method
  \"do some things\"
end

puts obj.new_method
> \"do some things\"

This works ok. However, I need to do

Answer 1

There are several ways to achieve this, and they are all related to the singleton class:

1. You can use class << idiom to open the singleton class definition:

   obj = Object.new
   class << obj
     def my_new_method
        ...
     end
   end
   

2. Or you can use define_singleton_method on the obj:

   obj = Object.new
   obj.define_sigleton_method(:my_new_method) do
        ...
   end
   

3. You can also use define_method from the singleton class:

   obj = Object.new
   obj.singleton_class.define_method(:my_new_method) do
        ...
   end
   

4. Or you can use def directly:

   obj = Object.new
   def obj.my_new_method
        ...
   end
   

Pay attention to example 3, I think the concept of a singleton class becomes clearer on that one. There is a difference between these two examples:

    a = Object.new
    b = Object.new

    # -- defining a new method in the object's "class" --
    a.class.define_method(:abc) do
      puts "hello abc"
    end

    a.abc # prints "hello abc"
    b.abc # also prints "hello abc"

    # -- defining a new method in the object's "singleton class" --
    a.singleton_class.define_method(:bcd) do
      puts "hello bcd"
    end

    a.bcd # prints "hello bcd"
    b.bcd # error undefined method

This is because every object has its own singleton class:

    a = Object.new
    b = Object.new

    p a.class # prints "Object"
    p a.singleton_class # prints "#<Class:#<Object:0x000055ebc0b84438>>"

    p b.class # also prints "Object"
    p b.singleton_class # prints "#<Class:#<Object:0x000055ebc0b84410>>" (a different reference address)

Answer 2

Just an interesting point to note:

if you had instead gone:

def my_method
    def my_other_method; end
end

Then my_other_method would actually be defined on the CLASS of the object not withstanding that the receiver ofmy_method is an instance.

However if you go (as you did):

def my_method
    def self.my_other_method; end
end

Then my_other_method is defined on the eigenclass of the instance.

Not directly relevant to your question but kind of interesting nonetheless ;)

Answer 3

It's been a long time since I asked this. In ruby 1.9+, there's a better way of doing this by using define_singleton_method, as follows:

obj = SomeObject.new

obj.define_singleton_method(:new_method) do
  "do some things"
end

Answer 4

Use instance_eval:

obj = SomeObject.new

obj.instance_eval do
  def new_method
    puts 'do something new'
  end
end

obj.new_method 
> "do something new"

Answer 5

Use a Mixin.

module AdditionalMethods
  def new_method
    "do some things"
  end
end

obj = SomeObject.new
obj.extend(AdditionalMethods)

puts obj.new_method
> "do some things"

Answer 6

Another way to use a Mixin

obj = SomeObject.new
class << obj
  include AnotherModule
end

This includes all of the methods from AnotherModule into the current object.