Ruby in a Nutshell

Name

Kernel — Module containing built-in functions

Synopsis

Kernel is the module in which Ruby’s built-in functions are defined as module functions. Since it’s included in Object, Kernel is indirectly included in all classes.

Private Instance Methods

Function-like methods are private methods of Kernel. Although the following methods fall into the same category, they are more similar to standard private instance methods than function-like methods.

remove_instance_variable(name)

Removes instance variable specified by name.

Instance Methods

o == other

Determines if the values are equal.

o === other

Comparison operator used by case statement (compares equality or confirms class membership).

o =~ other

Checks for pattern matches. The definition in Kernel calls ===.

o.class

o.type

Returns the class of the object o.

o.clone

Creates a copy of the object o (in as far as possible, including singleton methods).

o.display([out=$defout])

Prints the object. The output is specified in the argument.

o.dup

Creates a copy of the object (copying the content).

o.eql?(obj)

Performs a hash comparison. In order for eql? to return true, the hash value of both objects must have equal hash values.

o.equal?(obj)

Returns true if the two objects are the same.

o.extend(mod)

Adds module features (instance methods, etc.) of mod to the object o.

o.freeze

Freezes the object o, preventing further modification.

o.frozen?

Returns true if the object is frozen.

o.hash

Creates a hash value for the object o. Used together with eql? when the object ...