Support for the Ruby 2.4 series has ended. See here for reference.
BasicObject
![show/hide quicksearch [+]](./images/find.png)
This library provides three different ways to delegate method calls to an object.  The easiest to use is SimpleDelegator.  Pass an object to the constructor and all methods supported by the object will be delegated.  This object can be changed later.
Going a step further, the top level DelegateClass method allows you to easily setup delegation through class inheritance. This is considerably more flexible and thus probably the most common use for this library.
Finally, if you need full control over the delegation scheme, you can inherit from the abstract class Delegator and customize as needed.  (If you find yourself needing this control, have a look at Forwardable which is also in the standard library.  It may suit your needs better.)
SimpleDelegator's implementation serves as a nice example of the use of Delegator:
class SimpleDelegator < Delegator def __getobj__ @delegate_sd_obj # return object we are delegating to, required end def __setobj__(obj) @delegate_sd_obj = obj # change delegation object, # a feature we're providing end end
Be advised, RDoc will not detect delegated methods.
Delegates ! to the _getobj_
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 151
def !
  !__getobj__
end
             
            Returns true if two objects are not considered of equal value.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 143
def !=(obj)
  return false if obj.equal?(self)
  __getobj__ != obj
end
             
            Returns true if two objects are considered of equal value.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 135
def ==(obj)
  return true if obj.equal?(self)
  self.__getobj__ == obj
end
             
            This method must be overridden by subclasses and should return the object method calls are being delegated to.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 159
def __getobj__
  __raise__ ::NotImplementedError, "need to define `__getobj__'"
end
             
            This method must be overridden by subclasses and change the object delegate to obj.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 167
def __setobj__(obj)
  __raise__ ::NotImplementedError, "need to define `__setobj__'"
end
             
            Freeze both the object returned by _getobj_ and self.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 225
  
             
            Serialization support for the object returned by _getobj_.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 174
def marshal_dump
  ivars = instance_variables.reject {|var| /\A@delegate_/ =~ var}
  [
    :__v2__,
    ivars, ivars.map {|var| instance_variable_get(var)},
    __getobj__
  ]
end
             
            Reinitializes delegation from a serialized object.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 186
def marshal_load(data)
  version, vars, values, obj = data
  if version == :__v2__
    vars.each_with_index {|var, i| instance_variable_set(var, values[i])}
    __setobj__(obj)
  else
    __setobj__(data)
  end
end
             
            Handles the magic of delegation through _getobj_.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 78
def method_missing(m, *args, &block)
  r = true
  target = self.__getobj__ {r = false}
  if r && target.respond_to?(m)
    target.__send__(m, *args, &block)
  elsif ::Kernel.respond_to?(m, true)
    ::Kernel.instance_method(m).bind(self).(*args, &block)
  else
    super(m, *args, &block)
  end
end
             
            Returns the methods available to this delegate object as the union of this object's and _getobj_ methods.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 110
def methods(all=true)
  __getobj__.methods(all) | super
end
             
            Returns the methods available to this delegate object as the union of this object's and _getobj_ protected methods.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 126
def protected_methods(all=true)
  __getobj__.protected_methods(all) | super
end
             
            Returns the methods available to this delegate object as the union of this object's and _getobj_ public methods.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 118
def public_methods(all=true)
  __getobj__.public_methods(all) | super
end
             
            Use __raise__ if your Delegator does not have a object to delegate the raise method call.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 62
  
             
            Checks for a method provided by this the delegate object by forwarding the call through _getobj_.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 95
def respond_to_missing?(m, include_private)
  r = true
  target = self.__getobj__ {r = false}
  r &&= target.respond_to?(m, include_private)
  if r && include_private && !target.respond_to?(m, false)
    warn "#{caller(3)[0]}: delegator does not forward private method \##{m}"
    return false
  end
  r
end
             
            Taint both the object returned by _getobj_ and self.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 215
  
             
            Trust both the object returned by _getobj_ and self.
 
               # File delegate.rb, line 205