Question

I know if I subclass the String class and override its capitalize method, I can call the String class’ version of capitalize with super. What if instead I reopened the String class and rewrote the capitalize method? Is there a way I can call the previous version of that method?

Answer 1

Not out of the box. A common approach is to rename the existing method to a new name. Then, in your rewritten version, call the old method by the new name.

def String
    alias to_i old_to_i
    def to_i
       #add your own functionality here
       old_to_i
    end
end

You might also want to look at alias_method_chain, which does some of this for you.