# How to redefine != method?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-redefine-method/145506>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [August 11, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-redefine-method/145506 "2008-08-11T01:55:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ISSSSaki\_Baz\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@ISSSSaki\_Baz\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ISSSSaki_Baz_C)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-redefine-method/145506/1 "2008-08-11T01:55:43Z")

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Hi, I can redefine == method by doing:

def ==(string)

but it gives me an error if I try:

def !=(string)

* * *

## SyntaxError: compile error (irb):2: syntax error, unexpected tNEQ def !=(string); “hello” ; end ^ (irb):2: syntax error, unexpected kEND, expecting $end from (irb):2

How could I solve it?

Thanks a lot.

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**Author:** ![ISSSSaki\_Baz\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@ISSSSaki\_Baz\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ISSSSaki_Baz_C)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-redefine-method/145506/2 "2008-08-11T02:01:34Z")

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On Aug 10, 2008, at 6:53 PM, Iñaki Baz C. wrote:

> Hi, I can redefine == method by doing:
> 
> def ==(string)
> 
> but it gives me an error if I try:
> 
> def !=(string)

!= is simply a negated call to ==, so defining == also changes the  
definition of !=.

Regards

Dave T.

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**Author:** ![ISSSSaki\_Baz\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@ISSSSaki\_Baz\_C](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ISSSSaki_Baz_C)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-redefine-method/145506/3 "2008-08-11T02:23:12Z")

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El Lunes, 11 de Agosto de 2008, Dave T.  
escribió:\> definition of !=.  
Great to know, thanks a lot.