Question

How would I use the parameter value as the instance variable name of an object?

This is the object

Class MyClass    
    def initialize(ex,ey)
      @myvar = ex
      @myothervar = ey
    end
end

I have the following method

def test(element)
  instanceofMyClass.element  #this obviously doesnt work
end

How can I have the test method return either myvar or myothervar value depending on the element parameter. I don’t want to write an if condition though, I want to pass myvar or myother var via element to the object instance if possible.

Answer 1

def test(element)
  instanceofMyClass.send(element.to_sym)  
end

You’ll get a missing method error if instanceofMyClass doesn’t respond to element.