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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.

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.