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+= Calling Methods
+
+Calling a method sends a message to an object so it can perform some work.
+
+In ruby you send a message to an object like this:
+
+ my_method()
+
+Note that the parenthesis are optional:
+
+ my_method
+
+Except when there is difference between using and omitting parentheses, this
+document uses parenthesis when arguments are present to avoid confusion.
+
+This section only covers calling methods. See also the {syntax documentation
+on defining methods}[rdoc-ref:syntax/methods.rdoc].
+
+== Receiver
+
++self+ is the default receiver. If you don't specify any receiver +self+ will
+be used. To specify a receiver use <code>.</code>:
+
+ my_object.my_method
+
+This sends the +my_method+ message to +my_object+. Any object can be a
+receiver but depending on the method's visibility sending a message may raise a
+NoMethodError.
+
+You may also use <code>::</code> to designate a receiver, but this is rarely
+used due to the potential for confusion with <code>::</code> for namespaces.
+
+=== Chaining Method Calls
+
+You can "chain" method calls by immediately following one method call with another.
+
+This example chains methods Array#append and Array#compact:
+
+ a = [:foo, 'bar', 2]
+ a1 = [:baz, nil, :bam, nil]
+ a2 = a.append(*a1).compact
+ a2 # => [:foo, "bar", 2, :baz, :bam]
+
+Details:
+
+- First method <tt>merge</tt> creates a copy of <tt>a</tt>,
+ appends (separately) each element of <tt>a1</tt> to the copy, and returns
+ [:foo, "bar", 2, :baz, nil, :bam, nil]
+- Chained method <tt>compact</tt> creates a copy of that return value,
+ removes its <tt>nil</tt>-valued entries, and returns
+ [:foo, "bar", 2, :baz, :bam]
+
+You can chain methods that are in different classes.
+This example chains methods Hash#to_a and Array#reverse:
+
+ h = {foo: 0, bar: 1, baz: 2}
+ h.to_a.reverse # => [[:baz, 2], [:bar, 1], [:foo, 0]]
+
+Details:
+
+- First method Hash#to_a converts <tt>a</tt> to an \Array, and returns
+ [[:foo, 0], [:bar, 1], [:baz, 2]]
+- Chained method Array#reverse creates copy of that return value,
+ reverses it, and returns
+ [[:baz, 2], [:bar, 1], [:foo, 0]]
+
+=== Safe Navigation Operator
+
+<code>&.</code>, called "safe navigation operator", allows to skip method call
+when receiver is +nil+. It returns +nil+ and doesn't evaluate method's arguments
+if the call is skipped.
+
+ REGEX = /(ruby) is (\w+)/i
+ "Ruby is awesome!".match(REGEX).values_at(1, 2)
+ # => ["Ruby", "awesome"]
+ "Python is fascinating!".match(REGEX).values_at(1, 2)
+ # NoMethodError: undefined method `values_at' for nil:NilClass
+ "Python is fascinating!".match(REGEX)&.values_at(1, 2)
+ # => nil
+
+This allows to easily chain methods which could return empty value. Note that
+<code>&.</code> skips only one next call, so for a longer chain it is necessary
+to add operator on each level:
+
+ "Python is fascinating!".match(REGEX)&.values_at(1, 2).join(' - ')
+ # NoMethodError: undefined method `join' for nil:NilClass
+ "Python is fascinating!".match(REGEX)&.values_at(1, 2)&.join(' - ')
+ # => nil
+
+== Arguments
+
+There are three types of arguments when sending a message, the positional
+arguments, keyword (or named) arguments and the block argument. Each message
+sent may use one, two or all types of arguments, but the arguments must be
+supplied in this order.
+
+All arguments in ruby are passed by reference and are not lazily evaluated.
+
+Each argument is separated by a <code>,</code>:
+
+ my_method(1, '2', :three)
+
+Arguments may be an expression, a hash argument:
+
+ 'key' => value
+
+or a keyword argument:
+
+ key: value
+
+Hash and keyword arguments must be contiguous and must appear after all
+positional arguments, but may be mixed:
+
+ my_method('a' => 1, b: 2, 'c' => 3)
+
+=== Positional Arguments
+
+The positional arguments for the message follow the method name:
+
+ my_method(argument1, argument2)
+
+In many cases, parenthesis are not necessary when sending a message:
+
+ my_method argument1, argument2
+
+However, parenthesis are necessary to avoid ambiguity. This will raise a
+SyntaxError because ruby does not know which method argument3 should be sent
+to:
+
+ method_one argument1, method_two argument2, argument3
+
+If the method definition has a <code>*argument</code> extra positional
+arguments will be assigned to +argument+ in the method as an Array.
+
+If the method definition doesn't include keyword arguments, the keyword or
+hash-type arguments are assigned as a single hash to the last argument:
+
+ def my_method(options)
+ p options
+ end
+
+ my_method('a' => 1, b: 2) # prints: {'a'=>1, :b=>2}
+
+If too many positional arguments are given, an ArgumentError is raised.
+
+=== Default Positional Arguments
+
+When the method defines default arguments you do not need to supply all the
+arguments to the method. Ruby will fill in the missing arguments in-order.
+
+First we'll cover the simple case where the default arguments appear on the
+right. Consider this method:
+
+ def my_method(a, b, c = 3, d = 4)
+ p [a, b, c, d]
+ end
+
+Here +c+ and +d+ have default values which ruby will apply for you. If you
+send only two arguments to this method:
+
+ my_method(1, 2)
+
+You will see ruby print <code>[1, 2, 3, 4]</code>.
+
+If you send three arguments:
+
+ my_method(1, 2, 5)
+
+You will see ruby print <code>[1, 2, 5, 4]</code>
+
+Ruby fills in the missing arguments from left to right.
+
+Ruby allows default values to appear in the middle of positional arguments.
+Consider this more complicated method:
+
+ def my_method(a, b = 2, c = 3, d)
+ p [a, b, c, d]
+ end
+
+Here +b+ and +c+ have default values. If you send only two arguments to this
+method:
+
+ my_method(1, 4)
+
+You will see ruby print <code>[1, 2, 3, 4]</code>.
+
+If you send three arguments:
+
+ my_method(1, 5, 6)
+
+You will see ruby print <code>[1, 5, 3, 6]</code>.
+
+Describing this in words gets complicated and confusing. I'll describe it
+in variables and values instead.
+
+First <code>1</code> is assigned to +a+, then <code>6</code> is assigned to
++d+. This leaves only the arguments with default values. Since
+<code>5</code> has not been assigned to a value yet, it is given to +b+ and
++c+ uses its default value of <code>3</code>.
+
+=== Keyword Arguments
+
+Keyword arguments follow any positional arguments and are separated by commas
+like positional arguments:
+
+ my_method(positional1, keyword1: value1, keyword2: value2)
+
+Any keyword arguments not given will use the default value from the method
+definition. If a keyword argument is given that the method did not list,
+and the method definition does not accept arbitrary keyword arguments, an
+ArgumentError will be raised.
+
+Keyword argument value can be omitted, meaning the value will be fetched
+from the context by the name of the key
+
+ keyword1 = 'some value'
+ my_method(positional1, keyword1:)
+ # ...is the same as
+ my_method(positional1, keyword1: keyword1)
+
+Be aware that when method parenthesis are omitted, too, the parsing order might
+be unexpected:
+
+ my_method positional1, keyword1:
+
+ some_other_expression
+
+ # ...is actually parsed as
+ my_method(positional1, keyword1: some_other_expression)
+
+=== Block Argument
+
+The block argument sends a closure from the calling scope to the method.
+
+The block argument is always last when sending a message to a method. A block
+is sent to a method using <code>do ... end</code> or <code>{ ... }</code>:
+
+ my_method do
+ # ...
+ end
+
+or:
+
+ my_method {
+ # ...
+ }
+
+<code>do end</code> has lower precedence than <code>{ }</code> so:
+
+ method_1 method_2 {
+ # ...
+ }
+
+Sends the block to +method_2+ while:
+
+ method_1 method_2 do
+ # ...
+ end
+
+Sends the block to +method_1+. Note that in the first case if parentheses are
+used the block is sent to +method_1+.
+
+A block will accept arguments from the method it was sent to. Arguments are
+defined similar to the way a method defines arguments. The block's arguments
+go in <code>| ... |</code> following the opening <code>do</code> or
+<code>{</code>:
+
+ my_method do |argument1, argument2|
+ # ...
+ end
+
+==== Block Local Arguments
+
+You may also declare block-local arguments to a block using <code>;</code> in
+the block arguments list. Assigning to a block-local argument will not
+override local arguments outside the block in the caller's scope:
+
+ def my_method
+ yield self
+ end
+
+ place = "world"
+
+ my_method do |obj; place|
+ place = "block"
+ puts "hello #{obj} this is #{place}"
+ end
+
+ puts "place is: #{place}"
+
+This prints:
+
+ hello main this is block
+ place is: world
+
+So the +place+ variable in the block is not the same +place+ variable as
+outside the block. Removing <code>; place</code> from the block arguments
+gives this result:
+
+ hello main this is block
+ place is: block
+
+=== Unpacking Positional Arguments
+
+Given the following method:
+
+ def my_method(argument1, argument2, argument3)
+ end
+
+You can turn an Array into an argument list with <code>*</code> (or splat)
+operator:
+
+ arguments = [1, 2, 3]
+ my_method(*arguments)
+
+or:
+
+ arguments = [2, 3]
+ my_method(1, *arguments)
+
+Both are equivalent to:
+
+ my_method(1, 2, 3)
+
+The <code>*</code> unpacking operator can be applied to any object, not only
+arrays. If the object responds to a <code>#to_a</code> method, this method
+is called, and is expected to return an Array, and elements of this array are passed
+as separate positional arguments:
+
+ class Name
+ def initialize(name)
+ @name = name
+ end
+
+ def to_a = @name.split(' ')
+ end
+
+ name = Name.new('Jane Doe')
+ p(*name)
+ # prints separate values:
+ # Jane
+ # Doe
+
+If the object doesn't have a <code>#to_a</code> method, the object itself is passed
+as one argument:
+
+ class Name
+ def initialize(name)
+ @name = name
+ end
+ end
+
+ name = Name.new('Jane Doe')
+ p(*name)
+ # Prints the object itself:
+ # #<Name:0x00007f9d07bca650 @name="Jane Doe">
+
+This allows to handle one or many arguments polymorphically. Note also that <tt>*nil</tt>
+is unpacked to an empty list of arguments, so conditional unpacking is possible:
+
+ my_method(*(some_arguments if some_condition?))
+
+If <code>#to_a</code> method exists and does not return an Array, it would be an
+error on unpacking:
+
+ class Name
+ def initialize(name)
+ @name = name
+ end
+
+ def to_a = @name
+ end
+
+ name = Name.new('Jane Doe')
+ p(*name)
+ # can't convert Name to Array (Name#to_a gives String) (TypeError)
+
+You may also use the <code>**</code> (described next) to convert a Hash into
+keyword arguments.
+
+If the number of objects in the Array do not match the number of arguments for
+the method, an ArgumentError will be raised.
+
+If the splat operator comes first in the call, parentheses must be used to
+avoid an ambiguity of interpretation as an unpacking operator or multiplication
+operator. In this case, Ruby issues a warning in verbose mode:
+
+ my_method *arguments # warning: '*' interpreted as argument prefix
+ my_method(*arguments) # no warning
+
+=== Unpacking Keyword Arguments
+
+Given the following method:
+
+ def my_method(first: 1, second: 2, third: 3)
+ end
+
+You can turn a Hash into keyword arguments with the <code>**</code>
+(keyword splat) operator:
+
+ arguments = { first: 3, second: 4, third: 5 }
+ my_method(**arguments)
+
+or:
+
+ arguments = { first: 3, second: 4 }
+ my_method(third: 5, **arguments)
+
+Both are equivalent to:
+
+ my_method(first: 3, second: 4, third: 5)
+
+The <code>**</code> unpacking operator can be applied to any object, not only
+hashes. If the object responds to a <code>#to_hash</code> method, this method
+is called, and is expected to return an Hash, and elements of this hash are passed
+as keyword arguments:
+
+ class Name
+ def initialize(name)
+ @name = name
+ end
+
+ def to_hash = {first: @name.split(' ').first, last: @name.split(' ').last}
+ end
+
+ name = Name.new('Jane Doe')
+ p(**name)
+ # Prints: {name: "Jane", last: "Doe"}
+
+Unlike <code>*</code> operator, <code>**</code> raises an error when used on an
+object that doesn't respond to <code>#to_hash</code>. The one exception is
++nil+, which doesn't explicitly define this method, but is still allowed to
+be used in <code>**</code> unpacking, not adding any keyword arguments.
+
+Again, this allows for conditional unpacking:
+
+ my_method(some: params, **(some_extra_params if pass_extra_params?))
+
+Like <code>*</code> operator, <code>**</code> raises an error when the object responds
+to <code>#to_hash</code>, but it doesn't return a Hash.
+
+If the method definition uses the keyword splat operator to
+gather arbitrary keyword arguments, they will not be gathered
+by <code>*</code>:
+
+ def my_method(*a, **kw)
+ p arguments: a, keywords: kw
+ end
+
+ my_method(1, 2, '3' => 4, five: 6)
+
+Prints:
+
+ {:arguments=>[1, 2], :keywords=>{'3'=>4, :five=>6}}
+
+=== Proc to Block Conversion
+
+Given a method that use a block:
+
+ def my_method
+ yield self
+ end
+
+You can convert a proc or lambda to a block argument with the <code>&</code>
+(block conversion) operator:
+
+ argument = proc { |a| puts "#{a.inspect} was yielded" }
+
+ my_method(&argument)
+
+If the block conversion operator comes first in the call, parenthesis must be
+used to avoid a warning:
+
+ my_method &argument # warning
+ my_method(&argument) # no warning
+
+== Method Lookup
+
+When you send a message, Ruby looks up the method that matches the name of the
+message for the receiver. Methods are stored in classes and modules so method
+lookup walks these, not the objects themselves.
+
+Here is the order of method lookup for the receiver's class or module +R+:
+
+* The prepended modules of +R+ in reverse order
+* For a matching method in +R+
+* The included modules of +R+ in reverse order
+
+If +R+ is a class with a superclass, this is repeated with +R+'s superclass
+until a method is found.
+
+Once a match is found method lookup stops.
+
+If no match is found this repeats from the beginning, but looking for
++method_missing+. The default +method_missing+ is BasicObject#method_missing
+which raises a NameError when invoked.
+
+If refinements (an experimental feature) are active, the method lookup changes.
+See the {refinements documentation}[rdoc-ref:syntax/refinements.rdoc] for
+details.