In which class/module is the = method in Ruby?

Question

Does anyone know in which class/module the = method is in Ruby?

I want to convert

a = b

into

a equals b

So I have to know in which class/module it is so I can make an alias.

Thanks.

Answer 1

The = is the assignment operator. It can not be redefined.

Moreover, you can not define new operators. As Jörg points out, a equals b is the same as a(equals(b)) or equivalently self.a(self.equals(b)), so, you'd need an object that responds to both the :a message and the :equals message.

Answer 2

I was trying to provide an answer, but it looks like Ruby is smarter than I am:

# Adults! Don't try this at work. We're what you call "amateurs"
def a=(*args)
  if args.size == 1
    STDERR.puts "Assignment"
    @a = args[0]
  else
    STDERR.puts "Comparison"
    return args[0] == args[1]
  end
end

self.a=([1,2,3])
Assignment
=> [1, 2, 3]

self.a=([1,2,3],[4,5,6])
SyntaxError: (irb):12: syntax error, unexpected ',', expecting ')'
self.a=([1,2,3],[4,5,6])
            ^
        from C:/Ruby19/bin/irb:12:in `<main>'
self.send(:a=, [1,2,3],[4,5,6])
Comparison
=> false