How do I implement duck typing in Ruby?

How do I implement duck typing in Ruby?

Duck typing in Ruby allows you to use objects based on their behavior rather than their class. You can implement it by defining methods that expect certain behaviors.

Can you give me an example of duck typing in action?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

class Duck
  def quack
    "Quack!"
  end
end

class Dog
  def quack
    "Woof!"
  end
end

def make_it_quack(thing)
  puts thing.quack
end

make_it_quack(Duck.new)  # Outputs: Quack!
make_it_quack(Dog.new)   # Outputs: Woof!

In this example, both Duck and Dog respond to the quack method.

What are the advantages of using duck typing?

Duck typing promotes flexibility and code reusability. It allows you to write more generic code that can work with any object that implements the required methods, regardless of its class.

Are there any downsides to duck typing?

Yes, one downside is that it can lead to runtime errors if an object doesn't implement the expected methods. This makes it harder to catch errors at compile time.