# Why ActionController::Base.class\_eval for includes?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/why-actioncontroller-base-class-eval-for-includes/146633>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [August 23, 2008, 9:04am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/why-actioncontroller-base-class-eval-for-includes/146633 "2008-08-23T09:04:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![toddlc](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@toddlc](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/toddlc)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 9:04am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/why-actioncontroller-base-class-eval-for-includes/146633/1 "2008-08-23T09:04:45Z")

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Just out of curiosity, why does action\_controller.rb include classes  
with class\_eval instead of directly? I.e., why

ActionController::Base.class\_eval do  
include ActionController::Flash  
include ActionController::Filters  
…  
end

instead of just

class ActionController::Base  
include ActionController::Flash  
include ActionController::Filters  
…  
end