TLDR

  • super equals super(*args), which brings ALL args to the inherited method
  • super()…, is just super() that simply invokes the inherited method
super super() super(arg1, arg2, …)
Will take ALL args to the inherited method Will NOT take any args Will take the specified args

Keyword “Super” in Ruby

When super is used in a method, e.g., #eat in class Dog, super calls the method of the same name in parent class, i.e., #eat in Animal:

class Animal
  def eat
   puts "eating"
  end
end

class Dog < Animal
  def eat
    # calls super here
    super
  end
end

doggy = Dog.new
p doggy.eat # "eating"

Wait, ArgumentError?

Things start to get messy when we decide to explicitly pass arguments to super:

class Animal
  def eat(food)
    puts "eating #{food}"
  end
end

class Dog < Animal
  def eat(food1, food2)
    # super without declaring args
    super
    puts "eating #{food2} as well"
  end
end

class Cat < Animal
  def eat(food1, food2)
    # super with args
    super(food1)
    puts "eating #{food2} as well"
  end
end

doggy = Dog.new
kitty = Cat.new
doggy.eat("bento", "sushi") # "ArgumentError: (given 2, expected 1)"
kitty.eat("bento", "sushi") # "eating bento" & "eating sushi as well"

Super vs. Super()

  • super equals super(*args), which brings ALL args to the inherited method
  • Use super() when you just want to call the method inherited from Parent without passing args
super super() super(arg1, arg2, …)
Will take ALL args to the inherited method Will NOT take any args Will take the specified args

Examples

Say, we have a class, called Animal:

class Animal
  def eat
    puts "eating"
  end
end

Scenarios

  • Use super in #eat:
class Dog < Animal
  def eat(food1, food2)
    super
    puts "eating #{food2} as well"
  end
end

doggy = Dog.new
doggy.eat("bento", "sushi") # "ArgumentError: (given 2, expected 0)"
#                                              ^^^^^^^
  • Use super(arg) in #eat:
class Cat < Animal
  def eat(food1, food2)
    # super(arg)
    super(food1)
    puts "eating #{food2} as well"
  end
end

kitty = Cat.new
kitty.eat("bento", "sushi") # "ArgumentError: (given 1, expected 0)"
#                                              ^^^^^^^
  • Use super() in #eat:
class Bird < Animal
  def eat(food1, food2)
    # Just super()
    super()
    puts "eating #{food1} and #{food2} as well"
  end
end

birdy = Bird.new
birdy.eat("bento", "sushi") # program executes; prints
# eating
# eating bento and sushi as well

References