class Module

A Module is a collection of methods and constants. The methods in a module may be instance methods or module methods. Instance methods appear as methods in a class when the module is included, module methods do not. Conversely, module methods may be called without creating an encapsulating object, while instance methods may not. (See Module#module_function.)

In the descriptions that follow, the parameter sym refers to a symbol, which is either a quoted string or a Symbol (such as :name).

module Mod
  include Math
  CONST = 1
  def meth
    #  ...
  end
end
Mod.class              #=> Module
Mod.constants          #=> [:CONST, :PI, :E]
Mod.instance_methods   #=> [:meth]

Public Class Methods

constants → array
constants(inherited) → array

In the first form, returns an array of the names of all constants accessible from the point of call. This list includes the names of all modules and classes defined in the global scope.

Module.constants.first(4)
   # => [:ARGF, :ARGV, :ArgumentError, :Array]

Module.constants.include?(:SEEK_SET)   # => false

class IO
  Module.constants.include?(:SEEK_SET) # => true
end

The second form calls the instance method constants.

static VALUE
rb_mod_s_constants(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    const rb_cref_t *cref = rb_vm_cref();
    VALUE klass;
    VALUE cbase = 0;
    void *data = 0;

    if (argc > 0 || mod != rb_cModule) {
        return rb_mod_constants(argc, argv, mod);
    }

    while (cref) {
        klass = CREF_CLASS(cref);
        if (!CREF_PUSHED_BY_EVAL(cref) &&
            !NIL_P(klass)) {
            data = rb_mod_const_at(CREF_CLASS(cref), data);
            if (!cbase) {
                cbase = klass;
            }
        }
        cref = CREF_NEXT(cref);
    }

    if (cbase) {
        data = rb_mod_const_of(cbase, data);
    }
    return rb_const_list(data);
}
nesting → array

Returns the list of Modules nested at the point of call.

module M1
  module M2
    $a = Module.nesting
  end
end
$a           #=> [M1::M2, M1]
$a[0].name   #=> "M1::M2"
static VALUE
rb_mod_nesting(VALUE _)
{
    VALUE ary = rb_ary_new();
    const rb_cref_t *cref = rb_vm_cref();

    while (cref && CREF_NEXT(cref)) {
        VALUE klass = CREF_CLASS(cref);
        if (!CREF_PUSHED_BY_EVAL(cref) &&
            !NIL_P(klass)) {
            rb_ary_push(ary, klass);
        }
        cref = CREF_NEXT(cref);
    }
    return ary;
}
new → mod
new {|mod| block } → mod

Creates a new anonymous module. If a block is given, it is passed the module object, and the block is evaluated in the context of this module like module_eval.

fred = Module.new do
  def meth1
    "hello"
  end
  def meth2
    "bye"
  end
end
a = "my string"
a.extend(fred)   #=> "my string"
a.meth1          #=> "hello"
a.meth2          #=> "bye"

Assign the module to a constant (name starting uppercase) if you want to treat it like a regular module.

static VALUE
rb_mod_initialize(VALUE module)
{
    return rb_mod_initialize_exec(module);
}
used_modules → array

Returns an array of all modules used in the current scope. The ordering of modules in the resulting array is not defined.

module A
  refine Object do
  end
end

module B
  refine Object do
  end
end

using A
using B
p Module.used_modules

produces:

[B, A]
static VALUE
rb_mod_s_used_modules(VALUE _)
{
    const rb_cref_t *cref = rb_vm_cref();
    VALUE ary = rb_ary_new();

    while (cref) {
        if (!NIL_P(CREF_REFINEMENTS(cref))) {
            rb_hash_foreach(CREF_REFINEMENTS(cref), used_modules_i, ary);
        }
        cref = CREF_NEXT(cref);
    }

    return rb_funcall(ary, rb_intern("uniq"), 0);
}
used_refinements → array

Returns an array of all modules used in the current scope. The ordering of modules in the resulting array is not defined.

module A
  refine Object do
  end
end

module B
  refine Object do
  end
end

using A
using B
p Module.used_refinements

produces:

[#<refinement:Object@B>, #<refinement:Object@A>]
static VALUE
rb_mod_s_used_refinements(VALUE _)
{
    const rb_cref_t *cref = rb_vm_cref();
    VALUE ary = rb_ary_new();

    while (cref) {
        if (!NIL_P(CREF_REFINEMENTS(cref))) {
            rb_hash_foreach(CREF_REFINEMENTS(cref), used_refinements_i, ary);
        }
        cref = CREF_NEXT(cref);
    }

    return ary;
}

Public Instance Methods

mod < other → true, false, or nil

Returns true if mod is a subclass of other. Returns false if mod is the same as other or mod is an ancestor of other. Returns nil if there’s no relationship between the two. (Think of the relationship in terms of the class definition: “class A < B” implies “A < B”.)

static VALUE
rb_mod_lt(VALUE mod, VALUE arg)
{
    if (mod == arg) return Qfalse;
    return rb_class_inherited_p(mod, arg);
}
mod <= other → true, false, or nil

Returns true if mod is a subclass of other or is the same as other. Returns nil if there’s no relationship between the two. (Think of the relationship in terms of the class definition: “class A < B” implies “A < B”.)

VALUE
rb_class_inherited_p(VALUE mod, VALUE arg)
{
    if (mod == arg) return Qtrue;

    if (RB_TYPE_P(arg, T_CLASS) && RB_TYPE_P(mod, T_CLASS)) {
        // comparison between classes
        size_t mod_depth = RCLASS_SUPERCLASS_DEPTH(mod);
        size_t arg_depth = RCLASS_SUPERCLASS_DEPTH(arg);
        if (arg_depth < mod_depth) {
            // check if mod < arg
            return RCLASS_SUPERCLASSES(mod)[arg_depth] == arg ?
                Qtrue :
                Qnil;
        }
        else if (arg_depth > mod_depth) {
            // check if mod > arg
            return RCLASS_SUPERCLASSES(arg)[mod_depth] == mod ?
                Qfalse :
                Qnil;
        }
        else {
            // Depths match, and we know they aren't equal: no relation
            return Qnil;
        }
    }
    else {
        if (!CLASS_OR_MODULE_P(arg) && !RB_TYPE_P(arg, T_ICLASS)) {
            rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "compared with non class/module");
        }
        if (class_search_ancestor(mod, RCLASS_ORIGIN(arg))) {
            return Qtrue;
        }
        /* not mod < arg; check if mod > arg */
        if (class_search_ancestor(arg, mod)) {
            return Qfalse;
        }
        return Qnil;
    }
}
module <=> other_module → -1, 0, +1, or nil

Comparison—Returns -1, 0, +1 or nil depending on whether module includes other_module, they are the same, or if module is included by other_module.

Returns nil if module has no relationship with other_module, if other_module is not a module, or if the two values are incomparable.

static VALUE
rb_mod_cmp(VALUE mod, VALUE arg)
{
    VALUE cmp;

    if (mod == arg) return INT2FIX(0);
    if (!CLASS_OR_MODULE_P(arg)) {
        return Qnil;
    }

    cmp = rb_class_inherited_p(mod, arg);
    if (NIL_P(cmp)) return Qnil;
    if (cmp) {
        return INT2FIX(-1);
    }
    return INT2FIX(1);
}
obj == other → true or false
equal?(other) → true or false
eql?(other) → true or false

Equality — At the Object level, == returns true only if obj and other are the same object. Typically, this method is overridden in descendant classes to provide class-specific meaning.

Unlike ==, the equal? method should never be overridden by subclasses as it is used to determine object identity (that is, a.equal?(b) if and only if a is the same object as b):

obj = "a"
other = obj.dup

obj == other      #=> true
obj.equal? other  #=> false
obj.equal? obj    #=> true

The eql? method returns true if obj and other refer to the same hash key. This is used by Hash to test members for equality. For any pair of objects where eql? returns true, the hash value of both objects must be equal. So any subclass that overrides eql? should also override hash appropriately.

For objects of class Object, eql? is synonymous with ==. Subclasses normally continue this tradition by aliasing eql? to their overridden == method, but there are exceptions. Numeric types, for example, perform type conversion across ==, but not across eql?, so:

1 == 1.0     #=> true
1.eql? 1.0   #=> false
VALUE
rb_obj_equal(VALUE obj1, VALUE obj2)
{
    return RBOOL(obj1 == obj2);
}
mod === obj → true or false

Case Equality—Returns true if obj is an instance of mod or an instance of one of mod’s descendants. Of limited use for modules, but can be used in case statements to classify objects by class.

static VALUE
rb_mod_eqq(VALUE mod, VALUE arg)
{
    return rb_obj_is_kind_of(arg, mod);
}
mod > other → true, false, or nil

Returns true if mod is an ancestor of other. Returns false if mod is the same as other or mod is a descendant of other. Returns nil if there’s no relationship between the two. (Think of the relationship in terms of the class definition: “class A < B” implies “B > A”.)

static VALUE
rb_mod_gt(VALUE mod, VALUE arg)
{
    if (mod == arg) return Qfalse;
    return rb_mod_ge(mod, arg);
}
mod >= other → true, false, or nil

Returns true if mod is an ancestor of other, or the two modules are the same. Returns nil if there’s no relationship between the two. (Think of the relationship in terms of the class definition: “class A < B” implies “B > A”.)

static VALUE
rb_mod_ge(VALUE mod, VALUE arg)
{
    if (!CLASS_OR_MODULE_P(arg)) {
        rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "compared with non class/module");
    }

    return rb_class_inherited_p(arg, mod);
}
alias_method(new_name, old_name) → symbol

Makes new_name a new copy of the method old_name. This can be used to retain access to methods that are overridden.

module Mod
  alias_method :orig_exit, :exit #=> :orig_exit
  def exit(code=0)
    puts "Exiting with code #{code}"
    orig_exit(code)
  end
end
include Mod
exit(99)

produces:

Exiting with code 99
static VALUE
rb_mod_alias_method(VALUE mod, VALUE newname, VALUE oldname)
{
    ID oldid = rb_check_id(&oldname);
    if (!oldid) {
        rb_print_undef_str(mod, oldname);
    }
    VALUE id = rb_to_id(newname);
    rb_alias(mod, id, oldid);
    return ID2SYM(id);
}
ancestors → array

Returns a list of modules included/prepended in mod (including mod itself).

module Mod
  include Math
  include Comparable
  prepend Enumerable
end

Mod.ancestors        #=> [Enumerable, Mod, Comparable, Math]
Math.ancestors       #=> [Math]
Enumerable.ancestors #=> [Enumerable]
VALUE
rb_mod_ancestors(VALUE mod)
{
    VALUE p, ary = rb_ary_new();
    VALUE refined_class = Qnil;
    if (BUILTIN_TYPE(mod) == T_MODULE && FL_TEST(mod, RMODULE_IS_REFINEMENT)) {
        refined_class = rb_refinement_module_get_refined_class(mod);
    }

    for (p = mod; p; p = RCLASS_SUPER(p)) {
        if (p == refined_class) break;
        if (p != RCLASS_ORIGIN(p)) continue;
        if (BUILTIN_TYPE(p) == T_ICLASS) {
            rb_ary_push(ary, METACLASS_OF(p));
        }
        else {
            rb_ary_push(ary, p);
        }
    }
    return ary;
}
attr(name, ...) → array
attr(name, true) → array
attr(name, false) → array

The first form is equivalent to attr_reader. The second form is equivalent to attr_accessor(name) but deprecated. The last form is equivalent to attr_reader(name) but deprecated. Returns an array of defined method names as symbols.

VALUE
rb_mod_attr(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE klass)
{
    if (argc == 2 && (argv[1] == Qtrue || argv[1] == Qfalse)) {
        ID id = id_for_attr(klass, argv[0]);
        VALUE names = rb_ary_new();

        rb_category_warning(RB_WARN_CATEGORY_DEPRECATED, "optional boolean argument is obsoleted");
        rb_attr(klass, id, 1, RTEST(argv[1]), TRUE);
        rb_ary_push(names, ID2SYM(id));
        if (argv[1] == Qtrue) rb_ary_push(names, ID2SYM(rb_id_attrset(id)));
        return names;
    }
    return rb_mod_attr_reader(argc, argv, klass);
}
attr_accessor(symbol, ...) → array
attr_accessor(string, ...) → array

Defines a named attribute for this module, where the name is symbol.id2name, creating an instance variable (@name) and a corresponding access method to read it. Also creates a method called name= to set the attribute. String arguments are converted to symbols. Returns an array of defined method names as symbols.

module Mod
  attr_accessor(:one, :two) #=> [:one, :one=, :two, :two=]
end
Mod.instance_methods.sort   #=> [:one, :one=, :two, :two=]
static VALUE
rb_mod_attr_accessor(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE klass)
{
    int i;
    VALUE names = rb_ary_new2(argc * 2);

    for (i=0; i<argc; i++) {
        ID id = id_for_attr(klass, argv[i]);

        rb_attr(klass, id, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE);
        rb_ary_push(names, ID2SYM(id));
        rb_ary_push(names, ID2SYM(rb_id_attrset(id)));
    }
    return names;
}
attr_reader(symbol, ...) → array
attr(symbol, ...) → array
attr_reader(string, ...) → array
attr(string, ...) → array

Creates instance variables and corresponding methods that return the value of each instance variable. Equivalent to calling “attr:name” on each name in turn. String arguments are converted to symbols. Returns an array of defined method names as symbols.

static VALUE
rb_mod_attr_reader(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE klass)
{
    int i;
    VALUE names = rb_ary_new2(argc);

    for (i=0; i<argc; i++) {
        ID id = id_for_attr(klass, argv[i]);
        rb_attr(klass, id, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE);
        rb_ary_push(names, ID2SYM(id));
    }
    return names;
}
attr_writer(symbol, ...) → array
attr_writer(string, ...) → array

Creates an accessor method to allow assignment to the attribute symbol.id2name. String arguments are converted to symbols. Returns an array of defined method names as symbols.

static VALUE
rb_mod_attr_writer(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE klass)
{
    int i;
    VALUE names = rb_ary_new2(argc);

    for (i=0; i<argc; i++) {
        ID id = id_for_attr(klass, argv[i]);
        rb_attr(klass, id, FALSE, TRUE, TRUE);
        rb_ary_push(names, ID2SYM(rb_id_attrset(id)));
    }
    return names;
}
autoload(const, filename) → nil

Registers filename to be loaded (using Kernel::require) the first time that const (which may be a String or a symbol) is accessed in the namespace of mod.

module A
end
A.autoload(:B, "b")
A::B.doit            # autoloads "b"

If const in mod is defined as autoload, the file name to be loaded is replaced with filename. If const is defined but not as autoload, does nothing.

static VALUE
rb_mod_autoload(VALUE mod, VALUE sym, VALUE file)
{
    ID id = rb_to_id(sym);

    FilePathValue(file);
    rb_autoload_str(mod, id, file);
    return Qnil;
}
autoload?(name, inherit=true) → String or nil

Returns filename to be loaded if name is registered as autoload in the namespace of mod or one of its ancestors.

module A
end
A.autoload(:B, "b")
A.autoload?(:B)            #=> "b"

If inherit is false, the lookup only checks the autoloads in the receiver:

class A
  autoload :CONST, "const.rb"
end

class B < A
end

B.autoload?(:CONST)          #=> "const.rb", found in A (ancestor)
B.autoload?(:CONST, false)   #=> nil, not found in B itself
static VALUE
rb_mod_autoload_p(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    int recur = (rb_check_arity(argc, 1, 2) == 1) ? TRUE : RTEST(argv[1]);
    VALUE sym = argv[0];

    ID id = rb_check_id(&sym);
    if (!id) {
        return Qnil;
    }
    return rb_autoload_at_p(mod, id, recur);
}
class_eval(string [, filename [, lineno]]) → obj
class_eval {|mod| block } → obj

Evaluates the string or block in the context of mod, except that when a block is given, constant/class variable lookup is not affected. This can be used to add methods to a class. module_eval returns the result of evaluating its argument. The optional filename and lineno parameters set the text for error messages.

class Thing
end
a = %q{def hello() "Hello there!" end}
Thing.module_eval(a)
puts Thing.new.hello()
Thing.module_eval("invalid code", "dummy", 123)

produces:

Hello there!
dummy:123:in `module_eval': undefined local variable
    or method `code' for Thing:Class
Alias for: module_eval
class_exec(arg...) {|var...| block } → obj

Evaluates the given block in the context of the class/module. The method defined in the block will belong to the receiver. Any arguments passed to the method will be passed to the block. This can be used if the block needs to access instance variables.

class Thing
end
Thing.class_exec{
  def hello() "Hello there!" end
}
puts Thing.new.hello()

produces:

Hello there!
Alias for: module_exec
class_variable_defined?(symbol) → true or false
class_variable_defined?(string) → true or false

Returns true if the given class variable is defined in obj. String arguments are converted to symbols.

class Fred
  @@foo = 99
end
Fred.class_variable_defined?(:@@foo)    #=> true
Fred.class_variable_defined?(:@@bar)    #=> false
static VALUE
rb_mod_cvar_defined(VALUE obj, VALUE iv)
{
    ID id = id_for_var(obj, iv, class);

    if (!id) {
        return Qfalse;
    }
    return rb_cvar_defined(obj, id);
}
class_variable_get(symbol) → obj
class_variable_get(string) → obj

Returns the value of the given class variable (or throws a NameError exception). The @@ part of the variable name should be included for regular class variables. String arguments are converted to symbols.

class Fred
  @@foo = 99
end
Fred.class_variable_get(:@@foo)     #=> 99
static VALUE
rb_mod_cvar_get(VALUE obj, VALUE iv)
{
    ID id = id_for_var(obj, iv, class);

    if (!id) {
        rb_name_err_raise("uninitialized class variable %1$s in %2$s",
                          obj, iv);
    }
    return rb_cvar_get(obj, id);
}
class_variable_set(symbol, obj) → obj
class_variable_set(string, obj) → obj

Sets the class variable named by symbol to the given object. If the class variable name is passed as a string, that string is converted to a symbol.

class Fred
  @@foo = 99
  def foo
    @@foo
  end
end
Fred.class_variable_set(:@@foo, 101)     #=> 101
Fred.new.foo                             #=> 101
static VALUE
rb_mod_cvar_set(VALUE obj, VALUE iv, VALUE val)
{
    ID id = id_for_var(obj, iv, class);
    if (!id) id = rb_intern_str(iv);
    rb_cvar_set(obj, id, val);
    return val;
}
class_variables(inherit=true) → array

Returns an array of the names of class variables in mod. This includes the names of class variables in any included modules, unless the inherit parameter is set to false.

class One
  @@var1 = 1
end
class Two < One
  @@var2 = 2
end
One.class_variables          #=> [:@@var1]
Two.class_variables          #=> [:@@var2, :@@var1]
Two.class_variables(false)   #=> [:@@var2]
VALUE
rb_mod_class_variables(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    bool inherit = true;
    st_table *tbl;

    if (rb_check_arity(argc, 0, 1)) inherit = RTEST(argv[0]);
    if (inherit) {
        tbl = mod_cvar_of(mod, 0);
    }
    else {
        tbl = mod_cvar_at(mod, 0);
    }
    return cvar_list(tbl);
}
const_defined?(sym, inherit=true) → true or false
const_defined?(str, inherit=true) → true or false

Says whether mod or its ancestors have a constant with the given name:

Float.const_defined?(:EPSILON)      #=> true, found in Float itself
Float.const_defined?("String")      #=> true, found in Object (ancestor)
BasicObject.const_defined?(:Hash)   #=> false

If mod is a Module, additionally Object and its ancestors are checked:

Math.const_defined?(:String)   #=> true, found in Object

In each of the checked classes or modules, if the constant is not present but there is an autoload for it, true is returned directly without autoloading:

module Admin
  autoload :User, 'admin/user'
end
Admin.const_defined?(:User)   #=> true

If the constant is not found the callback const_missing is not called and the method returns false.

If inherit is false, the lookup only checks the constants in the receiver:

IO.const_defined?(:SYNC)          #=> true, found in File::Constants (ancestor)
IO.const_defined?(:SYNC, false)   #=> false, not found in IO itself

In this case, the same logic for autoloading applies.

If the argument is not a valid constant name a NameError is raised with the message “wrong constant name name”:

Hash.const_defined? 'foobar'   #=> NameError: wrong constant name foobar
static VALUE
rb_mod_const_defined(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    VALUE name, recur;
    rb_encoding *enc;
    const char *pbeg, *p, *path, *pend;
    ID id;

    rb_check_arity(argc, 1, 2);
    name = argv[0];
    recur = (argc == 1) ? Qtrue : argv[1];

    if (SYMBOL_P(name)) {
        if (!rb_is_const_sym(name)) goto wrong_name;
        id = rb_check_id(&name);
        if (!id) return Qfalse;
        return RTEST(recur) ? rb_const_defined(mod, id) : rb_const_defined_at(mod, id);
    }

    path = StringValuePtr(name);
    enc = rb_enc_get(name);

    if (!rb_enc_asciicompat(enc)) {
        rb_raise(rb_eArgError, "invalid class path encoding (non ASCII)");
    }

    pbeg = p = path;
    pend = path + RSTRING_LEN(name);

    if (p >= pend || !*p) {
        goto wrong_name;
    }

    if (p + 2 < pend && p[0] == ':' && p[1] == ':') {
        mod = rb_cObject;
        p += 2;
        pbeg = p;
    }

    while (p < pend) {
        VALUE part;
        long len, beglen;

        while (p < pend && *p != ':') p++;

        if (pbeg == p) goto wrong_name;

        id = rb_check_id_cstr(pbeg, len = p-pbeg, enc);
        beglen = pbeg-path;

        if (p < pend && p[0] == ':') {
            if (p + 2 >= pend || p[1] != ':') goto wrong_name;
            p += 2;
            pbeg = p;
        }

        if (!id) {
            part = rb_str_subseq(name, beglen, len);
            OBJ_FREEZE(part);
            if (!rb_is_const_name(part)) {
                name = part;
                goto wrong_name;
            }
            else {
                return Qfalse;
            }
        }
        if (!rb_is_const_id(id)) {
            name = ID2SYM(id);
            goto wrong_name;
        }

#if 0
        mod = rb_const_search(mod, id, beglen > 0 || !RTEST(recur), RTEST(recur), FALSE);
        if (UNDEF_P(mod)) return Qfalse;
#else
        if (!RTEST(recur)) {
            if (!rb_const_defined_at(mod, id))
                return Qfalse;
            if (p == pend) return Qtrue;
            mod = rb_const_get_at(mod, id);
        }
        else if (beglen == 0) {
            if (!rb_const_defined(mod, id))
                return Qfalse;
            if (p == pend) return Qtrue;
            mod = rb_const_get(mod, id);
        }
        else {
            if (!rb_const_defined_from(mod, id))
                return Qfalse;
            if (p == pend) return Qtrue;
            mod = rb_const_get_from(mod, id);
        }
#endif

        if (p < pend && !RB_TYPE_P(mod, T_MODULE) && !RB_TYPE_P(mod, T_CLASS)) {
            rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "%"PRIsVALUE" does not refer to class/module",
                     QUOTE(name));
        }
    }

    return Qtrue;

  wrong_name:
    rb_name_err_raise(wrong_constant_name, mod, name);
    UNREACHABLE_RETURN(Qundef);
}
const_get(sym, inherit=true) → obj
const_get(str, inherit=true) → obj

Checks for a constant with the given name in mod. If inherit is set, the lookup will also search the ancestors (and Object if mod is a Module).

The value of the constant is returned if a definition is found, otherwise a NameError is raised.

Math.const_get(:PI)   #=> 3.14159265358979

This method will recursively look up constant names if a namespaced class name is provided. For example:

module Foo; class Bar; end end
Object.const_get 'Foo::Bar'

The inherit flag is respected on each lookup. For example:

module Foo
  class Bar
    VAL = 10
  end

  class Baz < Bar; end
end

Object.const_get 'Foo::Baz::VAL'         # => 10
Object.const_get 'Foo::Baz::VAL', false  # => NameError

If the argument is not a valid constant name a NameError will be raised with a warning “wrong constant name”.

Object.const_get 'foobar' #=> NameError: wrong constant name foobar
static VALUE
rb_mod_const_get(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    VALUE name, recur;
    rb_encoding *enc;
    const char *pbeg, *p, *path, *pend;
    ID id;

    rb_check_arity(argc, 1, 2);
    name = argv[0];
    recur = (argc == 1) ? Qtrue : argv[1];

    if (SYMBOL_P(name)) {
        if (!rb_is_const_sym(name)) goto wrong_name;
        id = rb_check_id(&name);
        if (!id) return rb_const_missing(mod, name);
        return RTEST(recur) ? rb_const_get(mod, id) : rb_const_get_at(mod, id);
    }

    path = StringValuePtr(name);
    enc = rb_enc_get(name);

    if (!rb_enc_asciicompat(enc)) {
        rb_raise(rb_eArgError, "invalid class path encoding (non ASCII)");
    }

    pbeg = p = path;
    pend = path + RSTRING_LEN(name);

    if (p >= pend || !*p) {
        goto wrong_name;
    }

    if (p + 2 < pend && p[0] == ':' && p[1] == ':') {
        mod = rb_cObject;
        p += 2;
        pbeg = p;
    }

    while (p < pend) {
        VALUE part;
        long len, beglen;

        while (p < pend && *p != ':') p++;

        if (pbeg == p) goto wrong_name;

        id = rb_check_id_cstr(pbeg, len = p-pbeg, enc);
        beglen = pbeg-path;

        if (p < pend && p[0] == ':') {
            if (p + 2 >= pend || p[1] != ':') goto wrong_name;
            p += 2;
            pbeg = p;
        }

        if (!RB_TYPE_P(mod, T_MODULE) && !RB_TYPE_P(mod, T_CLASS)) {
            rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "%"PRIsVALUE" does not refer to class/module",
                     QUOTE(name));
        }

        if (!id) {
            part = rb_str_subseq(name, beglen, len);
            OBJ_FREEZE(part);
            if (!rb_is_const_name(part)) {
                name = part;
                goto wrong_name;
            }
            else if (!rb_method_basic_definition_p(CLASS_OF(mod), id_const_missing)) {
                part = rb_str_intern(part);
                mod = rb_const_missing(mod, part);
                continue;
            }
            else {
                rb_mod_const_missing(mod, part);
            }
        }
        if (!rb_is_const_id(id)) {
            name = ID2SYM(id);
            goto wrong_name;
        }
#if 0
        mod = rb_const_get_0(mod, id, beglen > 0 || !RTEST(recur), RTEST(recur), FALSE);
#else
        if (!RTEST(recur)) {
            mod = rb_const_get_at(mod, id);
        }
        else if (beglen == 0) {
            mod = rb_const_get(mod, id);
        }
        else {
            mod = rb_const_get_from(mod, id);
        }
#endif
    }

    return mod;

  wrong_name:
    rb_name_err_raise(wrong_constant_name, mod, name);
    UNREACHABLE_RETURN(Qundef);
}
const_missing(sym) → obj

Invoked when a reference is made to an undefined constant in mod. It is passed a symbol for the undefined constant, and returns a value to be used for that constant. For example, consider:

def Foo.const_missing(name)
  name # return the constant name as Symbol
end

Foo::UNDEFINED_CONST    #=> :UNDEFINED_CONST: symbol returned

As the example above shows, const_missing is not required to create the missing constant in mod, though that is often a side-effect. The caller gets its return value when triggered. If the constant is also defined, further lookups won’t hit const_missing and will return the value stored in the constant as usual. Otherwise, const_missing will be invoked again.

In the next example, when a reference is made to an undefined constant, const_missing attempts to load a file whose path is the lowercase version of the constant name (thus class Fred is assumed to be in file fred.rb). If defined as a side-effect of loading the file, the method returns the value stored in the constant. This implements an autoload feature similar to Kernel#autoload and Module#autoload, though it differs in important ways.

def Object.const_missing(name)
  @looked_for ||= {}
  str_name = name.to_s
  raise "Constant not found: #{name}" if @looked_for[str_name]
  @looked_for[str_name] = 1
  file = str_name.downcase
  require file
  const_get(name, false)
end
VALUE
rb_mod_const_missing(VALUE klass, VALUE name)
{
    rb_execution_context_t *ec = GET_EC();
    VALUE ref = ec->private_const_reference;
    rb_vm_pop_cfunc_frame();
    if (ref) {
        ec->private_const_reference = 0;
        rb_name_err_raise("private constant %2$s::%1$s referenced", ref, name);
    }
    uninitialized_constant(klass, name);

    UNREACHABLE_RETURN(Qnil);
}
const_set(sym, obj) → obj
const_set(str, obj) → obj

Sets the named constant to the given object, returning that object. Creates a new constant if no constant with the given name previously existed.

Math.const_set("HIGH_SCHOOL_PI", 22.0/7.0)   #=> 3.14285714285714
Math::HIGH_SCHOOL_PI - Math::PI              #=> 0.00126448926734968

If sym or str is not a valid constant name a NameError will be raised with a warning “wrong constant name”.

Object.const_set('foobar', 42) #=> NameError: wrong constant name foobar
static VALUE
rb_mod_const_set(VALUE mod, VALUE name, VALUE value)
{
    ID id = id_for_var(mod, name, const);
    if (!id) id = rb_intern_str(name);
    rb_const_set(mod, id, value);

    return value;
}
const_source_location(sym, inherit=true) → [String, Integer]
const_source_location(str, inherit=true) → [String, Integer]

Returns the Ruby source filename and line number containing the definition of the constant specified. If the named constant is not found, nil is returned. If the constant is found, but its source location can not be extracted (constant is defined in C code), empty array is returned.

inherit specifies whether to lookup in mod.ancestors (true by default).

# test.rb:
class A         # line 1
  C1 = 1
  C2 = 2
end

module M        # line 6
  C3 = 3
end

class B < A     # line 10
  include M
  C4 = 4
end

class A # continuation of A definition
  C2 = 8 # constant redefinition; warned yet allowed
end

p B.const_source_location('C4')           # => ["test.rb", 12]
p B.const_source_location('C3')           # => ["test.rb", 7]
p B.const_source_location('C1')           # => ["test.rb", 2]

p B.const_source_location('C3', false)    # => nil  -- don't lookup in ancestors

p A.const_source_location('C2')           # => ["test.rb", 16] -- actual (last) definition place

p Object.const_source_location('B')       # => ["test.rb", 10] -- top-level constant could be looked through Object
p Object.const_source_location('A')       # => ["test.rb", 1] -- class reopening is NOT considered new definition

p B.const_source_location('A')            # => ["test.rb", 1]  -- because Object is in ancestors
p M.const_source_location('A')            # => ["test.rb", 1]  -- Object is not ancestor, but additionally checked for modules

p Object.const_source_location('A::C1')   # => ["test.rb", 2]  -- nesting is supported
p Object.const_source_location('String')  # => []  -- constant is defined in C code
static VALUE
rb_mod_const_source_location(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    VALUE name, recur, loc = Qnil;
    rb_encoding *enc;
    const char *pbeg, *p, *path, *pend;
    ID id;

    rb_check_arity(argc, 1, 2);
    name = argv[0];
    recur = (argc == 1) ? Qtrue : argv[1];

    if (SYMBOL_P(name)) {
        if (!rb_is_const_sym(name)) goto wrong_name;
        id = rb_check_id(&name);
        if (!id) return Qnil;
        return RTEST(recur) ? rb_const_source_location(mod, id) : rb_const_source_location_at(mod, id);
    }

    path = StringValuePtr(name);
    enc = rb_enc_get(name);

    if (!rb_enc_asciicompat(enc)) {
        rb_raise(rb_eArgError, "invalid class path encoding (non ASCII)");
    }

    pbeg = p = path;
    pend = path + RSTRING_LEN(name);

    if (p >= pend || !*p) {
        goto wrong_name;
    }

    if (p + 2 < pend && p[0] == ':' && p[1] == ':') {
        mod = rb_cObject;
        p += 2;
        pbeg = p;
    }

    while (p < pend) {
        VALUE part;
        long len, beglen;

        while (p < pend && *p != ':') p++;

        if (pbeg == p) goto wrong_name;

        id = rb_check_id_cstr(pbeg, len = p-pbeg, enc);
        beglen = pbeg-path;

        if (p < pend && p[0] == ':') {
            if (p + 2 >= pend || p[1] != ':') goto wrong_name;
            p += 2;
            pbeg = p;
        }

        if (!id) {
            part = rb_str_subseq(name, beglen, len);
            OBJ_FREEZE(part);
            if (!rb_is_const_name(part)) {
                name = part;
                goto wrong_name;
            }
            else {
                return Qnil;
            }
        }
        if (!rb_is_const_id(id)) {
            name = ID2SYM(id);
            goto wrong_name;
        }
        if (p < pend) {
            if (RTEST(recur)) {
                mod = rb_const_get(mod, id);
            }
            else {
                mod = rb_const_get_at(mod, id);
            }
            if (!RB_TYPE_P(mod, T_MODULE) && !RB_TYPE_P(mod, T_CLASS)) {
                rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "%"PRIsVALUE" does not refer to class/module",
                         QUOTE(name));
            }
        }
        else {
            if (RTEST(recur)) {
                loc = rb_const_source_location(mod, id);
            }
            else {
                loc = rb_const_source_location_at(mod, id);
            }
            break;
        }
        recur = Qfalse;
    }

    return loc;

  wrong_name:
    rb_name_err_raise(wrong_constant_name, mod, name);
    UNREACHABLE_RETURN(Qundef);
}
constants(inherit=true) → array

Returns an array of the names of the constants accessible in mod. This includes the names of constants in any included modules (example at start of section), unless the inherit parameter is set to false.

The implementation makes no guarantees about the order in which the constants are yielded.

IO.constants.include?(:SYNC)        #=> true
IO.constants(false).include?(:SYNC) #=> false

Also see Module#const_defined?.

VALUE
rb_mod_constants(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    bool inherit = true;

    if (rb_check_arity(argc, 0, 1)) inherit = RTEST(argv[0]);

    if (inherit) {
        return rb_const_list(rb_mod_const_of(mod, 0));
    }
    else {
        return rb_local_constants(mod);
    }
}
define_method(symbol, method) → symbol
define_method(symbol) { block } → symbol

Defines an instance method in the receiver. The method parameter can be a Proc, a Method or an UnboundMethod object. If a block is specified, it is used as the method body. If a block or the method parameter has parameters, they’re used as method parameters. This block is evaluated using instance_eval.

class A
  def fred
    puts "In Fred"
  end
  def create_method(name, &block)
    self.class.define_method(name, &block)
  end
  define_method(:wilma) { puts "Charge it!" }
  define_method(:flint) {|name| puts "I'm #{name}!"}
end
class B < A
  define_method(:barney, instance_method(:fred))
end
a = B.new
a.barney
a.wilma
a.flint('Dino')
a.create_method(:betty) { p self }
a.betty

produces:

In Fred
Charge it!
I'm Dino!
#<B:0x401b39e8>
static VALUE
rb_mod_define_method(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    const rb_cref_t *cref = rb_vm_cref_in_context(mod, mod);
    const rb_scope_visibility_t default_scope_visi = {METHOD_VISI_PUBLIC, FALSE};
    const rb_scope_visibility_t *scope_visi = &default_scope_visi;

    if (cref) {
        scope_visi = CREF_SCOPE_VISI(cref);
    }

    return rb_mod_define_method_with_visibility(argc, argv, mod, scope_visi);
}
deprecate_constant(symbol, ...) → mod

Makes a list of existing constants deprecated. Attempt to refer to them will produce a warning.

module HTTP
  NotFound = Exception.new
  NOT_FOUND = NotFound # previous version of the library used this name

  deprecate_constant :NOT_FOUND
end

HTTP::NOT_FOUND
# warning: constant HTTP::NOT_FOUND is deprecated
VALUE
rb_mod_deprecate_constant(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    set_const_visibility(obj, argc, argv, CONST_DEPRECATED, CONST_DEPRECATED);
    return obj;
}
freeze → mod

Prevents further modifications to mod.

This method returns self.

static VALUE
rb_mod_freeze(VALUE mod)
{
    rb_class_name(mod);
    return rb_obj_freeze(mod);
}
include(module, ...) → self

Invokes Module.append_features on each parameter in reverse order.

static VALUE
rb_mod_include(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE module)
{
    int i;
    ID id_append_features, id_included;

    CONST_ID(id_append_features, "append_features");
    CONST_ID(id_included, "included");

    if (BUILTIN_TYPE(module) == T_MODULE && FL_TEST(module, RMODULE_IS_REFINEMENT)) {
        rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "Refinement#include has been removed");
    }

    rb_check_arity(argc, 1, UNLIMITED_ARGUMENTS);
    for (i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
        Check_Type(argv[i], T_MODULE);
        if (FL_TEST(argv[i], RMODULE_IS_REFINEMENT)) {
            rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "Cannot include refinement");
        }
    }
    while (argc--) {
        rb_funcall(argv[argc], id_append_features, 1, module);
        rb_funcall(argv[argc], id_included, 1, module);
    }
    return module;
}
include?(module) → true or false

Returns true if module is included or prepended in mod or one of mod’s ancestors.

module A
end
class B
  include A
end
class C < B
end
B.include?(A)   #=> true
C.include?(A)   #=> true
A.include?(A)   #=> false
VALUE
rb_mod_include_p(VALUE mod, VALUE mod2)
{
    VALUE p;

    Check_Type(mod2, T_MODULE);
    for (p = RCLASS_SUPER(mod); p; p = RCLASS_SUPER(p)) {
        if (BUILTIN_TYPE(p) == T_ICLASS && !FL_TEST(p, RICLASS_IS_ORIGIN)) {
            if (METACLASS_OF(p) == mod2) return Qtrue;
        }
    }
    return Qfalse;
}
included_modules → array

Returns the list of modules included or prepended in mod or one of mod’s ancestors.

module Sub
end

module Mixin
  prepend Sub
end

module Outer
  include Mixin
end

Mixin.included_modules   #=> [Sub]
Outer.included_modules   #=> [Sub, Mixin]
VALUE
rb_mod_included_modules(VALUE mod)
{
    VALUE ary = rb_ary_new();
    VALUE p;
    VALUE origin = RCLASS_ORIGIN(mod);

    for (p = RCLASS_SUPER(mod); p; p = RCLASS_SUPER(p)) {
        if (p != origin && RCLASS_ORIGIN(p) == p && BUILTIN_TYPE(p) == T_ICLASS) {
            VALUE m = METACLASS_OF(p);
            if (RB_TYPE_P(m, T_MODULE))
                rb_ary_push(ary, m);
        }
    }
    return ary;
}
inspect
Alias for: to_s
instance_method(symbol) → unbound_method

Returns an UnboundMethod representing the given instance method in mod.

class Interpreter
  def do_a() print "there, "; end
  def do_d() print "Hello ";  end
  def do_e() print "!\n";     end
  def do_v() print "Dave";    end
  Dispatcher = {
    "a" => instance_method(:do_a),
    "d" => instance_method(:do_d),
    "e" => instance_method(:do_e),
    "v" => instance_method(:do_v)
  }
  def interpret(string)
    string.each_char {|b| Dispatcher[b].bind(self).call }
  end
end

interpreter = Interpreter.new
interpreter.interpret('dave')

produces:

Hello there, Dave!
static VALUE
rb_mod_instance_method(VALUE mod, VALUE vid)
{
    ID id = rb_check_id(&vid);
    if (!id) {
        rb_method_name_error(mod, vid);
    }
    return mnew_unbound(mod, id, rb_cUnboundMethod, FALSE);
}
instance_methods(include_super=true) → array

Returns an array containing the names of the public and protected instance methods in the receiver. For a module, these are the public and protected methods; for a class, they are the instance (not singleton) methods. If the optional parameter is false, the methods of any ancestors are not included.

module A
  def method1()  end
end
class B
  include A
  def method2()  end
end
class C < B
  def method3()  end
end

A.instance_methods(false)                   #=> [:method1]
B.instance_methods(false)                   #=> [:method2]
B.instance_methods(true).include?(:method1) #=> true
C.instance_methods(false)                   #=> [:method3]
C.instance_methods.include?(:method2)       #=> true

Note that method visibility changes in the current class, as well as aliases, are considered as methods of the current class by this method:

class C < B
  alias method4 method2
  protected :method2
end
C.instance_methods(false).sort               #=> [:method2, :method3, :method4]
VALUE
rb_class_instance_methods(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    return class_instance_method_list(argc, argv, mod, 0, ins_methods_i);
}
method_defined?(symbol, inherit=true) → true or false
method_defined?(string, inherit=true) → true or false

Returns true if the named method is defined by mod. If inherit is set, the lookup will also search mod’s ancestors. Public and protected methods are matched. String arguments are converted to symbols.

module A
  def method1()  end
  def protected_method1()  end
  protected :protected_method1
end
class B
  def method2()  end
  def private_method2()  end
  private :private_method2
end
class C < B
  include A
  def method3()  end
end

A.method_defined? :method1              #=> true
C.method_defined? "method1"             #=> true
C.method_defined? "method2"             #=> true
C.method_defined? "method2", true       #=> true
C.method_defined? "method2", false      #=> false
C.method_defined? "method3"             #=> true
C.method_defined? "protected_method1"   #=> true
C.method_defined? "method4"             #=> false
C.method_defined? "private_method2"     #=> false
static VALUE
rb_mod_method_defined(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    rb_method_visibility_t visi = check_definition_visibility(mod, argc, argv);
    return RBOOL(visi == METHOD_VISI_PUBLIC || visi == METHOD_VISI_PROTECTED);
}
module_eval(string [, filename [, lineno]]) → obj
module_eval {|mod| block } → obj

Evaluates the string or block in the context of mod, except that when a block is given, constant/class variable lookup is not affected. This can be used to add methods to a class. module_eval returns the result of evaluating its argument. The optional filename and lineno parameters set the text for error messages.

class Thing
end
a = %q{def hello() "Hello there!" end}
Thing.module_eval(a)
puts Thing.new.hello()
Thing.module_eval("invalid code", "dummy", 123)

produces:

Hello there!
dummy:123:in `module_eval': undefined local variable
    or method `code' for Thing:Class
static VALUE
rb_mod_module_eval_internal(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    return specific_eval(argc, argv, mod, FALSE, RB_PASS_CALLED_KEYWORDS);
}
Also aliased as: class_eval
module_exec(arg...) {|var...| block } → obj

Evaluates the given block in the context of the class/module. The method defined in the block will belong to the receiver. Any arguments passed to the method will be passed to the block. This can be used if the block needs to access instance variables.

class Thing
end
Thing.class_exec{
  def hello() "Hello there!" end
}
puts Thing.new.hello()

produces:

Hello there!
static VALUE
rb_mod_module_exec_internal(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    return yield_under(mod, FALSE, argc, argv, RB_PASS_CALLED_KEYWORDS);
}
Also aliased as: class_exec
name → string or nil

Returns the name of the module mod. Returns nil for anonymous modules.

VALUE
rb_mod_name(VALUE mod)
{
    bool permanent;
    return classname(mod, &permanent);
}
prepend(module, ...) → self

Invokes Module.prepend_features on each parameter in reverse order.

static VALUE
rb_mod_prepend(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE module)
{
    int i;
    ID id_prepend_features, id_prepended;

    if (BUILTIN_TYPE(module) == T_MODULE && FL_TEST(module, RMODULE_IS_REFINEMENT)) {
        rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "Refinement#prepend has been removed");
    }

    CONST_ID(id_prepend_features, "prepend_features");
    CONST_ID(id_prepended, "prepended");

    rb_check_arity(argc, 1, UNLIMITED_ARGUMENTS);
    for (i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
        Check_Type(argv[i], T_MODULE);
        if (FL_TEST(argv[i], RMODULE_IS_REFINEMENT)) {
            rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "Cannot prepend refinement");
        }
    }
    while (argc--) {
        rb_funcall(argv[argc], id_prepend_features, 1, module);
        rb_funcall(argv[argc], id_prepended, 1, module);
    }
    return module;
}
private_class_method(symbol, ...) → mod
private_class_method(string, ...) → mod
private_class_method(array) → mod

Makes existing class methods private. Often used to hide the default constructor new.

String arguments are converted to symbols. An Array of Symbols and/or Strings is also accepted.

class SimpleSingleton  # Not thread safe
  private_class_method :new
  def SimpleSingleton.create(*args, &block)
    @me = new(*args, &block) if ! @me
    @me
  end
end
static VALUE
rb_mod_private_method(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    set_method_visibility(rb_singleton_class(obj), argc, argv, METHOD_VISI_PRIVATE);
    return obj;
}
private_constant(symbol, ...) → mod

Makes a list of existing constants private.

VALUE
rb_mod_private_constant(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    set_const_visibility(obj, argc, argv, CONST_PRIVATE, CONST_VISIBILITY_MASK);
    return obj;
}
private_instance_methods(include_super=true) → array

Returns a list of the private instance methods defined in mod. If the optional parameter is false, the methods of any ancestors are not included.

module Mod
  def method1()  end
  private :method1
  def method2()  end
end
Mod.instance_methods           #=> [:method2]
Mod.private_instance_methods   #=> [:method1]
VALUE
rb_class_private_instance_methods(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    return class_instance_method_list(argc, argv, mod, 0, ins_methods_priv_i);
}
private_method_defined?(symbol, inherit=true) → true or false
private_method_defined?(string, inherit=true) → true or false

Returns true if the named private method is defined by mod. If inherit is set, the lookup will also search mod’s ancestors. String arguments are converted to symbols.

module A
  def method1()  end
end
class B
  private
  def method2()  end
end
class C < B
  include A
  def method3()  end
end

A.method_defined? :method1                   #=> true
C.private_method_defined? "method1"          #=> false
C.private_method_defined? "method2"          #=> true
C.private_method_defined? "method2", true    #=> true
C.private_method_defined? "method2", false   #=> false
C.method_defined? "method2"                  #=> false
static VALUE
rb_mod_private_method_defined(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    return check_definition(mod, argc, argv, METHOD_VISI_PRIVATE);
}
protected_instance_methods(include_super=true) → array

Returns a list of the protected instance methods defined in mod. If the optional parameter is false, the methods of any ancestors are not included.

VALUE
rb_class_protected_instance_methods(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    return class_instance_method_list(argc, argv, mod, 0, ins_methods_prot_i);
}
protected_method_defined?(symbol, inherit=true) → true or false
protected_method_defined?(string, inherit=true) → true or false

Returns true if the named protected method is defined mod. If inherit is set, the lookup will also search mod’s ancestors. String arguments are converted to symbols.

module A
  def method1()  end
end
class B
  protected
  def method2()  end
end
class C < B
  include A
  def method3()  end
end

A.method_defined? :method1                    #=> true
C.protected_method_defined? "method1"         #=> false
C.protected_method_defined? "method2"         #=> true
C.protected_method_defined? "method2", true   #=> true
C.protected_method_defined? "method2", false  #=> false
C.method_defined? "method2"                   #=> true
static VALUE
rb_mod_protected_method_defined(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    return check_definition(mod, argc, argv, METHOD_VISI_PROTECTED);
}
public_class_method(symbol, ...) → mod
public_class_method(string, ...) → mod
public_class_method(array) → mod

Makes a list of existing class methods public.

String arguments are converted to symbols. An Array of Symbols and/or Strings is also accepted.

static VALUE
rb_mod_public_method(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    set_method_visibility(rb_singleton_class(obj), argc, argv, METHOD_VISI_PUBLIC);
    return obj;
}
public_constant(symbol, ...) → mod

Makes a list of existing constants public.

VALUE
rb_mod_public_constant(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE obj)
{
    set_const_visibility(obj, argc, argv, CONST_PUBLIC, CONST_VISIBILITY_MASK);
    return obj;
}
public_instance_method(symbol) → unbound_method

Similar to instance_method, searches public method only.

static VALUE
rb_mod_public_instance_method(VALUE mod, VALUE vid)
{
    ID id = rb_check_id(&vid);
    if (!id) {
        rb_method_name_error(mod, vid);
    }
    return mnew_unbound(mod, id, rb_cUnboundMethod, TRUE);
}
public_instance_methods(include_super=true) → array

Returns a list of the public instance methods defined in mod. If the optional parameter is false, the methods of any ancestors are not included.

VALUE
rb_class_public_instance_methods(int argc, const VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    return class_instance_method_list(argc, argv, mod, 0, ins_methods_pub_i);
}
public_method_defined?(symbol, inherit=true) → true or false
public_method_defined?(string, inherit=true) → true or false

Returns true if the named public method is defined by mod. If inherit is set, the lookup will also search mod’s ancestors. String arguments are converted to symbols.

module A
  def method1()  end
end
class B
  protected
  def method2()  end
end
class C < B
  include A
  def method3()  end
end

A.method_defined? :method1                 #=> true
C.public_method_defined? "method1"         #=> true
C.public_method_defined? "method1", true   #=> true
C.public_method_defined? "method1", false  #=> true
C.public_method_defined? "method2"         #=> false
C.method_defined? "method2"                #=> true
static VALUE
rb_mod_public_method_defined(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    return check_definition(mod, argc, argv, METHOD_VISI_PUBLIC);
}
refinements → array

Returns an array of Refinement defined within the receiver.

module A
  refine Integer do
  end

  refine String do
  end
end

p A.refinements

produces:

[#<refinement:Integer@A>, #<refinement:String@A>]
static VALUE
mod_refinements(VALUE self)
{
    ID id_refinements;
    VALUE refinements;

    CONST_ID(id_refinements, "__refinements__");
    refinements = rb_attr_get(self, id_refinements);
    if (NIL_P(refinements)) {
        return rb_ary_new();
    }
    return rb_hash_values(refinements);
}
remove_class_variable(sym) → obj

Removes the named class variable from the receiver, returning that variable’s value.

class Example
  @@var = 99
  puts remove_class_variable(:@@var)
  p(defined? @@var)
end

produces:

99
nil
VALUE
rb_mod_remove_cvar(VALUE mod, VALUE name)
{
    const ID id = id_for_var_message(mod, name, class, "wrong class variable name %1$s");
    st_data_t val;

    if (!id) {
        goto not_defined;
    }
    rb_check_frozen(mod);
    val = rb_ivar_delete(mod, id, Qundef);
    if (!UNDEF_P(val)) {
        return (VALUE)val;
    }
    if (rb_cvar_defined(mod, id)) {
        rb_name_err_raise("cannot remove %1$s for %2$s", mod, ID2SYM(id));
    }
  not_defined:
    rb_name_err_raise("class variable %1$s not defined for %2$s",
                      mod, name);
    UNREACHABLE_RETURN(Qundef);
}
remove_method(symbol) → self
remove_method(string) → self

Removes the method identified by symbol from the current class. For an example, see Module#undef_method. String arguments are converted to symbols.

static VALUE
rb_mod_remove_method(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    int i;

    for (i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
        VALUE v = argv[i];
        ID id = rb_check_id(&v);
        if (!id) {
            rb_name_err_raise("method '%1$s' not defined in %2$s",
                              mod, v);
        }
        remove_method(mod, id);
    }
    return mod;
}
set_temporary_name(string) → self
set_temporary_name(nil) → self

Sets the temporary name of the module. This name is reflected in introspection of the module and the values that are related to it, such as instances, constants, and methods.

The name should be nil or a non-empty string that is not a valid constant path (to avoid confusing between permanent and temporary names).

The method can be useful to distinguish dynamically generated classes and modules without assigning them to constants.

If the module is given a permanent name by assigning it to a constant, the temporary name is discarded. A temporary name can’t be assigned to modules that have a permanent name.

If the given name is nil, the module becomes anonymous again.

Example:

m = Module.new # => #<Module:0x0000000102c68f38>
m.name #=> nil

m.set_temporary_name("fake_name") # => fake_name
m.name #=> "fake_name"

m.set_temporary_name(nil) # => #<Module:0x0000000102c68f38>
m.name #=> nil

c = Class.new
c.set_temporary_name("MyClass(with description)")

c.new # => #<MyClass(with description):0x0....>

c::M = m
c::M.name #=> "MyClass(with description)::M"

# Assigning to a constant replaces the name with a permanent one
C = c

C.name #=> "C"
C::M.name #=> "C::M"
c.new # => #<C:0x0....>
VALUE
rb_mod_set_temporary_name(VALUE mod, VALUE name)
{
    // We don't allow setting the name if the classpath is already permanent:
    if (RCLASS_EXT(mod)->permanent_classpath) {
        rb_raise(rb_eRuntimeError, "can't change permanent name");
    }

    if (NIL_P(name)) {
        // Set the temporary classpath to NULL (anonymous):
        RCLASS_SET_CLASSPATH(mod, 0, FALSE);
    }
    else {
        // Ensure the name is a string:
        StringValue(name);

        if (RSTRING_LEN(name) == 0) {
            rb_raise(rb_eArgError, "empty class/module name");
        }

        if (is_constant_path(name)) {
            rb_raise(rb_eArgError, "the temporary name must not be a constant path to avoid confusion");
        }

        // Set the temporary classpath to the given name:
        RCLASS_SET_CLASSPATH(mod, name, FALSE);
    }

    return mod;
}
singleton_class? → true or false

Returns true if mod is a singleton class or false if it is an ordinary class or module.

class C
end
C.singleton_class?                  #=> false
C.singleton_class.singleton_class?  #=> true
static VALUE
rb_mod_singleton_p(VALUE klass)
{
    return RBOOL(RCLASS_SINGLETON_P(klass));
}
to_s → string

Returns a string representing this module or class. For basic classes and modules, this is the name. For singletons, we show information on the thing we’re attached to as well.

VALUE
rb_mod_to_s(VALUE klass)
{
    ID id_defined_at;
    VALUE refined_class, defined_at;

    if (RCLASS_SINGLETON_P(klass)) {
        VALUE s = rb_usascii_str_new2("#<Class:");
        VALUE v = RCLASS_ATTACHED_OBJECT(klass);

        if (CLASS_OR_MODULE_P(v)) {
            rb_str_append(s, rb_inspect(v));
        }
        else {
            rb_str_append(s, rb_any_to_s(v));
        }
        rb_str_cat2(s, ">");

        return s;
    }
    refined_class = rb_refinement_module_get_refined_class(klass);
    if (!NIL_P(refined_class)) {
        VALUE s = rb_usascii_str_new2("#<refinement:");

        rb_str_concat(s, rb_inspect(refined_class));
        rb_str_cat2(s, "@");
        CONST_ID(id_defined_at, "__defined_at__");
        defined_at = rb_attr_get(klass, id_defined_at);
        rb_str_concat(s, rb_inspect(defined_at));
        rb_str_cat2(s, ">");
        return s;
    }
    return rb_class_name(klass);
}
Also aliased as: inspect
undef_method(symbol) → self
undef_method(string) → self

Prevents the current class from responding to calls to the named method. Contrast this with remove_method, which deletes the method from the particular class; Ruby will still search superclasses and mixed-in modules for a possible receiver. String arguments are converted to symbols.

class Parent
  def hello
    puts "In parent"
  end
end
class Child < Parent
  def hello
    puts "In child"
  end
end

c = Child.new
c.hello

class Child
  remove_method :hello  # remove from child, still in parent
end
c.hello

class Child
  undef_method :hello   # prevent any calls to 'hello'
end
c.hello

produces:

In child
In parent
prog.rb:23: undefined method 'hello' for #<Child:0x401b3bb4> (NoMethodError)
static VALUE
rb_mod_undef_method(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE mod)
{
    int i;
    for (i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
        VALUE v = argv[i];
        ID id = rb_check_id(&v);
        if (!id) {
            rb_method_name_error(mod, v);
        }
        rb_undef(mod, id);
    }
    return mod;
}
undefined_instance_methods → array

Returns a list of the undefined instance methods defined in mod. The undefined methods of any ancestors are not included.

VALUE
rb_class_undefined_instance_methods(VALUE mod)
{
    VALUE include_super = Qfalse;
    return class_instance_method_list(1, &include_super, mod, 0, ins_methods_undef_i);
}