I am using an API and receiving a array of hashes. Lets say:
array = client.getObjects(123) //where 123 is some collection of object ID
I want to add some additional attributes to the array to use later in my view, like:
<%= array.getRequestor %> // return a string
What is the easiest way to do this? I was thinking about creating a new class that extends array but I wanted to know can I just add a string "requestor" attribute a lot easier?
Thanks
Extending a core class is not a good idea in general, especially when the additional responsibilities you want to add in are specific to your functional domain.
6 months down the line, somebody (perhaps yourself) will be trying to debug the code and wondering why does Array expose a random custom method.
It would be better to explicitly define your custom view object, perhaps by using a Struct, eg:
# my_view_object.rb
class MyViewObject < Struct.new(:hash)
def getRequestor
# manipulate / return specific hash data
end
end
# controller
@view_obj = MyViewObject.new(client.getObjects(123))
# view
@view_obj.hash # original hash
@view_obj.getRequestor # your custom attribute
Note that the intent of a Struct is to represent a custom data structure, not behaviour. If your custom method needs to do unrelated work, you might want to use a PORO (Plain Old Ruby Object) instead.
I'd say that extending Array sounds like a really bad idea. I would suggest you instead wrap the array in hash of your own. For example
my_hash = {getRequestor: ?, array: array}
and then use it like
<%= my_hash.getRequestor %>
as in your example code.
Arraywould be a good idea. What should be the result of[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].getRequestor? Instead you could create a new class which only references your array.