Inner function in Ruby

Question

In JS, inner functions could be quite handy to simplify the code, something like:

function complexStuff() {
  function step1() { ... }
  function step2() { ... } 

  step1()
  step2()
}

Is it possible to use something similar in Ruby, or are there different approaches?

I don't like private methods because private methods are available to the whole class, and in this case, I want to limit the scope of the inner function even more--to just one method.

You should read on blocks, procs and lambdas. See https://www.blackbytes.info/2016/02/ruby-procs-and-lambdas/ — theterminalguy, Aug 13 '17 at 08:13

ContinuousLoad · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-13T03:53:09.047

4

A Ruby lambda is similar to an anonymous js function:

step1 = lambda {puts "I am a lambda!"}
step1.call "optional args", ...

Some shorthand:

f = -> {puts "Shorthand lambda"}
f.()

More info (including shorthand notation!!) here

edited Aug 13 '17 at 03:53

answered Aug 13 '17 at 03:47

ContinuousLoad

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Lambda also let you do things like `array.map(&some_lambda)` which helps clean up and clarify chains of Enumerable method calls. – mu is too short Aug 13 '17 at 04:05

Inner function in Ruby

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