/ Ruby
/
method

instance_variable_set

v1_9_3_392 - Show latest stable - Class: Object
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\">"

1Note

Example

kyptin · Nov 18, 20095 thanks

=== 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'