In ruby how to use class level local variable? (a ruby newbie's question)

Question

So suppose I have this (not working):

class User
   description = \"I am User class variable\"
   def print
       puts description
   end
end

Answer 1

You can access the class-scope using define_method.

class User
   description = "I am User class variable"
   define_method :print do
       puts description
   end
end

> User.new.print
I am User class variable
=> nil

I don't think it's good idea, though :)

Answer 2

To define a class variable, use an @@:

class User
   @@description = "I am a User class variable"

   def print
       puts @@description
   end
end

Answer 3

In your case, the description is only local variable. You can change this scope using special characters @, @@, $:

a = 5
defined? a
=> "local-variable"

@a = 5
defined? @a
=> "instance-variable"

@@a = 5
defined? @@a
=> "class variable"

$a = 5
defined? $a
=> "global-variable"

For your purpose, I think it might be using by this way

class User
  def initialize(description)
    @description = description
  end

  def print
      puts @description
  end
end

obj = User.new("I am User")
obj.print
# => I am User

Answer 4

Instance variables must be prefixed with an @ and are not accessible from outside. Class variables must be prefixed with an @@.

The first time you use this variable anywhere in code, it will be initialized. If you want to access the value from outside:

attr_reader :description

http://rubylearning.com/satishtalim/tutorial.html