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Ruby Ruby Objects and Classes Variables and Methods Methods

John Bamberg
John Bamberg
9,774 Points
Posted by John Bamberg
John Bamberg
9,774 Points

Parenthesis

Why add () after full_name method?

3 Answers

candacemielke
candacemielke
6,466 Points

The parenthesis after a method is what indicates to the interpreter that it is a method, and also indicates that you are calling it into action.

Leo Tank
Leo Tank
36,262 Points
Leo Tank
Leo Tank
36,262 Points

In Ruby parenthesis after method call are redundant.

Ravi Kalsi
Ravi Kalsi
780 Points
Ravi Kalsi
Ravi Kalsi
780 Points

Here are two ways to define a method. Both are the same. The first is the original way, the second is the common way.

def full_name() ... end

def full_name ... end

Note the (). The parenthesis mark that it is a function (as opposed to a variable). However in Ruby, parentheses can usually be omitted. It makes the text easier to read.

These are also the same: puts name.full_name() puts name.full_name

To improve clarity, some people will include () to make it extra clear that it is a function.