Objects of class Binding encapsulate the execution context at some particular place in the code and retain this context for future use. The variables, methods, value of self, and possibly an iterator block that can be accessed in this context are all retained. Binding objects can be created using Kernel#binding, and are made available to the callback of Kernel#set_trace_func.
These binding objects can be passed as the second argument of the Kernel#eval method, establishing an environment for the evaluation.
class Demo def initialize(n) @secret = n end def get_binding binding end end k1 = Demo.new(99) b1 = k1.get_binding k2 = Demo.new(-3) b2 = k2.get_binding eval("@secret", b1) #=> 99 eval("@secret", b2) #=> -3 eval("@secret") #=> nil
Binding objects have no class-specific methods.
static VALUE
bind_eval(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE bindval)
{
VALUE args[4];
rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "12", &args[0], &args[2], &args[3]);
args[1] = bindval;
return rb_f_eval(argc+1, args, Qnil /* self will be searched in eval */);
}
Evaluates the Ruby expression(s) in string, in the binding’s context. If the optional filename and lineno parameters are present, they will be used when reporting syntax errors.
def get_binding(param) binding end b = get_binding("hello") b.eval("param") #=> "hello"
# File tmp/rubies/ruby-2.6.10/lib/irb.rb, line 792
def irb
IRB.setup(eval("__FILE__"), argv: [])
workspace = IRB::WorkSpace.new(self)
STDOUT.print(workspace.code_around_binding)
IRB::Irb.new(workspace).run(IRB.conf)
end
Opens an IRB session where binding.irb is called which allows for interactive debugging. You can call any methods or variables available in the current scope, and mutate state if you need to.
Given a Ruby file called potato.rb containing the following code:
class Potato def initialize @cooked = false binding.irb puts "Cooked potato: #{@cooked}" end end Potato.new
Running +ruby potato.rb+ will open an IRB session where binding.irb is called, and you will see the following:
$ ruby potato.rb
From: potato.rb @ line 4 :
1: class Potato
2: def initialize
3: @cooked = false
=> 4: binding.irb
5: puts "Cooked potato: #{@cooked}"
6: end
7: end
8:
9: Potato.new
irb(#<Potato:0x00007feea1916670>):001:0>
You can type any valid Ruby code and it will be evaluated in the current context. This allows you to debug without having to run your code repeatedly:
irb(#<Potato:0x00007feea1916670>):001:0> @cooked => false irb(#<Potato:0x00007feea1916670>):002:0> self.class => Potato irb(#<Potato:0x00007feea1916670>):003:0> caller.first => ".../2.5.1/lib/ruby/2.5.0/irb/workspace.rb:85:in `eval'" irb(#<Potato:0x00007feea1916670>):004:0> @cooked = true => true
You can exit the IRB session with the ‘exit` command. Note that exiting will resume execution where binding.irb had paused it, as you can see from the output printed to standard output in this example:
irb(#<Potato:0x00007feea1916670>):005:0> exit Cooked potato: true
See IRB for more information.
static VALUE
bind_local_variable_defined_p(VALUE bindval, VALUE sym)
{
ID lid = check_local_id(bindval, &sym);
const rb_binding_t *bind;
const rb_env_t *env;
if (!lid) return Qfalse;
GetBindingPtr(bindval, bind);
env = VM_ENV_ENVVAL_PTR(vm_block_ep(&bind->block));
return get_local_variable_ptr(&env, lid) ? Qtrue : Qfalse;
}
Returns true if a local variable symbol exists.
def foo a = 1 binding.local_variable_defined?(:a) #=> true binding.local_variable_defined?(:b) #=> false end
This method is the short version of the following code:
binding.eval("defined?(#{symbol}) == 'local-variable'")
static VALUE
bind_local_variable_get(VALUE bindval, VALUE sym)
{
ID lid = check_local_id(bindval, &sym);
const rb_binding_t *bind;
const VALUE *ptr;
const rb_env_t *env;
if (!lid) goto undefined;
GetBindingPtr(bindval, bind);
env = VM_ENV_ENVVAL_PTR(vm_block_ep(&bind->block));
if ((ptr = get_local_variable_ptr(&env, lid)) == NULL) {
sym = ID2SYM(lid);
undefined:
rb_name_err_raise("local variable `%1$s' is not defined for %2$s",
bindval, sym);
}
return *ptr;
}
Returns the value of the local variable symbol.
def foo a = 1 binding.local_variable_get(:a) #=> 1 binding.local_variable_get(:b) #=> NameError end
This method is the short version of the following code:
binding.eval("#{symbol}")
static VALUE
bind_local_variable_set(VALUE bindval, VALUE sym, VALUE val)
{
ID lid = check_local_id(bindval, &sym);
rb_binding_t *bind;
const VALUE *ptr;
const rb_env_t *env;
if (!lid) lid = rb_intern_str(sym);
GetBindingPtr(bindval, bind);
env = VM_ENV_ENVVAL_PTR(vm_block_ep(&bind->block));
if ((ptr = get_local_variable_ptr(&env, lid)) == NULL) {
/* not found. create new env */
ptr = rb_binding_add_dynavars(bindval, bind, 1, &lid);
env = VM_ENV_ENVVAL_PTR(vm_block_ep(&bind->block));
}
RB_OBJ_WRITE(env, ptr, val);
return val;
}
Set local variable named symbol as obj.
def foo a = 1 bind = binding bind.local_variable_set(:a, 2) # set existing local variable `a' bind.local_variable_set(:b, 3) # create new local variable `b' # `b' exists only in binding p bind.local_variable_get(:a) #=> 2 p bind.local_variable_get(:b) #=> 3 p a #=> 2 p b #=> NameError end
This method behaves similarly to the following code:
binding.eval("#{symbol} = #{obj}")
if obj can be dumped in Ruby code.
static VALUE
bind_local_variables(VALUE bindval)
{
const rb_binding_t *bind;
const rb_env_t *env;
GetBindingPtr(bindval, bind);
env = VM_ENV_ENVVAL_PTR(vm_block_ep(&bind->block));
return rb_vm_env_local_variables(env);
}
Returns the names of the binding’s local variables as symbols.
def foo a = 1 2.times do |n| binding.local_variables #=> [:a, :n] end end
This method is the short version of the following code:
binding.eval("local_variables")
static VALUE
bind_receiver(VALUE bindval)
{
const rb_binding_t *bind;
GetBindingPtr(bindval, bind);
return vm_block_self(&bind->block);
}
Returns the bound receiver of the binding object.
static VALUE
bind_location(VALUE bindval)
{
VALUE loc[2];
const rb_binding_t *bind;
GetBindingPtr(bindval, bind);
loc[0] = pathobj_path(bind->pathobj);
loc[1] = INT2FIX(bind->first_lineno);
return rb_ary_new4(2, loc);
}
Returns the Ruby source filename and line number of the binding object.