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An attribute reader allows us to access variables in a class from outside that class. This is normally code we would have to write ourselves but Ruby gives us a shortcut in the form of an attribute reader.
Code Samples
class Name
attr_reader :first_name, :middle_name, :last_name
def initialize(title, first_name, middle_name, last_name)
@title = title
@first_name = first_name
@midde_name = middle_name
@last_name = last_name
end
end
Now that we know how to create and send in
attributes when working on a class,
0:00
let's go ahead and fix up our name class
with the different name attributes.
0:05
Now this pattern that we see right here,
0:11
where we are setting instance variables,
and then calling them later.
0:13
It's something that's done quite a bit in
Ruby.
0:19
And Ruby actually gives us a shortcut for
doing this exact thing.
0:22
The shortcut is using a method called
attr_reader which stands for
0:28
attribute reader.
0:35
Now let's try it right here.
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When we set the attribute reader as a
title,
0:41
we can go down to the Title Method and
take this out.
0:45
Now, if we run this program again, we
should see the same thing printed.
0:50
And we do.
0:57
When we call the Adder Reader Method.
0:58
Ruby is actually writing this method for
us.
1:01
It takes the name that we send in.
1:05
Which in this case is title.
1:07
And actually creates this method.
1:10
Which just returns the variable.
1:13
So we can go ahead and do that for all of
our different named attributes.
1:18
Now our class just looks like this.
1:33
And let's go ahead and
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run it and just make sure that everything
is printed out the same way again.
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And it works exactly as we expect it to.
1:43
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