# Shouldn't it be self \>\> class, or am I dyslexic?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/shouldnt-it-be-self-class-or-am-i-dyslexic/113519>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [September 1, 2007, 3:02am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/shouldnt-it-be-self-class-or-am-i-dyslexic/113519 "2007-09-01T03:02:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![nbits](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@nbits](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/nbits)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 3:02am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/shouldnt-it-be-self-class-or-am-i-dyslexic/113519/1 "2007-09-01T03:02:53Z")

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The semantics of

class X

…

class \<\< self  
def instance\_method\_for\_class\_object\_named\_X  
…  
end  
end

end

is that an instance method is added (appended) to the current object X  
== self by  
the class definition that encloses the new method. Because we are  
appending a new method to self, the arrows should point towards “self”  
not “class.”

nbits

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nbits](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@nbits](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/nbits)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 3:14am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/shouldnt-it-be-self-class-or-am-i-dyslexic/113519/2 "2007-09-01T03:14:51Z")

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Oops,

Subject should read “… class \>\> self …”

(Ok, maybe I am dyslexic – but I’m still right – just takes me a  
couple  
of tries to get the sequencing right.) 🙂

Ben T. wrote:

> The semantics of
> 
> class X
> 
> …
> 
> class \<\< self // I think it should be class \>\> self.  
> def instance\_method\_for\_class\_object\_named\_X  
> …  
> end  
> end
> 
> end
> 
> is that an instance method is added (appended) to the current object X  
> == self by  
> the class definition that encloses the new method. Because we are  
> appending a new method to self, the arrows should point towards “self”  
> not “class.”
> 
> nbits