instance_variable_set(p1, p2) public

Sets the instance variable names by symbol to object, thereby frustrating the efforts of the class’s author to attempt to provide proper encapsulation. The variable did not have to exist prior to this call.

class Fred
  def initialize(p1, p2)
    @a, @b = p1, p2
  end
end
fred = Fred.new('cat', 99)
fred.instance_variable_set(:@a, 'dog')   #=> "dog"
fred.instance_variable_set(:@c, 'cat')   #=> "cat"
fred.inspect                             #=> "#<Fred:0x401b3da8 @a=\"dog\", @b=99, @c=\"cat\">"
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November 18, 2009 - (>= v1_8_6_287)
5 thanks

Example

code:

class Klass
  def set(string)
    var_name = "@#{string}"  # the '@' is required
    self.instance_variable_set(var_name, 'bar')
  end
  def puts_foo
    puts @foo
  end
end
k = Klass.new
k.puts_foo  # nil
k.set('foo')
k.puts_foo  # 'bar'