What is the difference between Methods and Attributes in Ruby?

Question

Can you give me an example?

Answer 1

Attributes are just a shortcut. If you use attr_accessor to create an attribute, Ruby just declares an instance variable and creates getter and setter methods for you.

Since you asked for an example:

class Thing
    attr_accessor :my_property

    attr_reader :my_readable_property

    attr_writer :my_writable_property

    def do_stuff
        # does stuff
    end
end 

Here's how you'd use the class:

# Instantiate
thing = Thing.new

# Call the method do_stuff
thing.do_stuff

# You can read or write my_property
thing.my_property = "Whatever"
puts thing.my_property

# We only have a readable accessor for my_readable_property
puts thing.my_readable_property 

# And my_writable_propety has only the writable accessor
thing.my_writable_property = "Whatever"