How to Use The Ruby Alias Keyword

You can give an alternative name to a Ruby method in two ways:

• alias (keyword)
• alias_method

Because they do the same thing in slightly different ways this can be a confusing topic.

This image is a summary of the differences:

Let’s explore these differences in more detail to get a solid understanding!

The alias Keyword

First we have alias, which is a Ruby keyword (like if, def, class, etc.)

It looks like this:

alias print_something puts

print_something 1

Now calling print_something is the same as calling puts.

Because alias is a keyword it has some interesting attributes:

• It has special syntax
• It can be used anywhere in your code
• It can alias global variables (don’t do this!)

The valid forms of alias are:

• alias a b
• alias :a :b
• alias :”#{}” :b

Notice that there are no commas between the arguments like in a regular method.

Ruby expects both a & b to be valid method names, variables don’t work here. If you want to use variables you’ll have to do something like this…

Example:

a = :print_something
b = :puts

alias :"#{a}" :"#{b}"

But this looks ugly, so you may want to use alias_method for dynamic method names.

The alias_method Method

Next:

We have alias_method, which is a method defined on Module.

You can only use this method at the class & module level, but not inside instance methods.

Here’s a description from the documentation:

alias_method: “Makes new_name a new copy of the method old_name. This can be used to retain access to methods that are overridden.”

Example:

class Foo
  alias_method :print_something, :puts
end

This will alias print_something to puts inside Foo.

You can use strings as alias_method arguments.

Example:

class Foo
  alias_method "print_something", "puts"
end

alias vs alias_method

You’ve seen an overview of alias & alias_method.

But when do the differences come into play?

1. When you define an alias for a dynamically generated method name (like “abc#{rand}”)
2. When you define an alias inside a method

Defining an alias for a dynamically generated method name is possible with the alias keyword but you have to use interpolated symbols.

With alias_method you get more flexible arguments.

Example:

class Cat
  def speak
    "meow"
  end

  alias_method "#{name.downcase}_speak", :speak
end

p Cat.new.cat_speak
# "meow"

Now:

If you want to define an alias inside a method you’ll get this error:

undefined method 'alias_method' for # (NoMethodError)

Because you’re working within an object & not a class!

Inside an instance method you don’t have access to methods defined in Module, which is where alias_method is defined.

Here’s one possible solution:

def enable_aliased_methods
  self.class.send(:alias_method, :x, :testing)
end

Using alias:

def enable_aliased_methods
  alias 😡 :testing
end

One important difference:

• A method defined by alias will belong to the class where alias is used
• A method defined by alias_method will belong to self, the current class at the time the code is run

This is why that matters:

If you call a method on a parent class that uses the alias keyword…

The aliasing will happen on the parent class & not on the class that’s calling the method.

Example:

class Food
  def create_alias
    alias print_on_screen puts
  end
end

class Apple < Food
end

Apple.new.create_alias

But if you use alias_method the method will only be aliased on Apple.

Aliasing Makes a Copy Of The Method

As per the description of alias_method & alias (keyword), Ruby creates a copy of the method.

It’s not only a new name.

But an actual copy of the method.

This has some practical implications:

def bacon
  123
end

alias 😡 :bacon

x
# 123

bacon
# 123

So we alias x to bacon, now watch what happens if I redefine bacon:

def bacon
  234
end

x
# 123

bacon
# 234

The x method stays the same, but bacon returns the new value!

This can come as a surprise if you’re including modules to your class after aliasing methods.

Video Tutorial

Summary

In general I like more alias_method because it’s an actual method.

While the alias keyword has some special attributes that you have to remember & keep in mind.

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