ruby/doc/keywords.rdoc

== Keywords

The following keywords are used by Ruby.

__ENCODING__::
  The script encoding of the current file.  See Encoding.

__LINE__::
  The line number of this keyword in the current file.

__FILE__::
  The path to the current file.

BEGIN::
  Runs before any other code in the current file.  See {miscellaneous
  syntax}[rdoc-ref:syntax/miscellaneous.rdoc]

END::
  Runs after any other code in the current file.  See {miscellaneous
  syntax}[rdoc-ref:syntax/miscellaneous.rdoc]

alias::
  Creates an alias between two methods (and other things).  See {modules and
  classes syntax}[rdoc-ref:syntax/modules_and_classes.rdoc]

and::
  Short-circuit Boolean and with lower precedence than <code>&&</code>

begin::
  Starts an exception handling block.  See {exceptions
  syntax}[rdoc-ref:syntax/exceptions.rdoc]

break::
  Leaves a block early.  See {control expressions
  syntax}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

case::
  Starts a +case+ expression.  See {control expressions
  syntax}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

class::
  Creates or opens a class.  See {modules and classes
  syntax}[rdoc-ref:syntax/modules_and_classes.rdoc]

def::
  Defines a method.  See {methods syntax}[rdoc-ref:syntax/methods.rdoc]

defined?::
  Returns a string describing its argument.  See {miscellaneous
  syntax}[rdoc-ref:syntax/miscellaneous.rdoc]

do::
  Starts a block.

else::
  The unhandled condition in +case+, +if+ and +unless+ expressions.  See
  {control expressions}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

elsif::
  An alternate condition for an +if+ expression.  See {control
  expressions}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

end::
  The end of a syntax block.  Used by classes, modules, methods, exception
  handling and control expressions.

ensure::
  Starts a section of code that is always run when an exception is raised.
  See {exception handling}[rdoc-ref:syntax/exceptions.rdoc]

false::
  Boolean false.  See {literals}[rdoc-ref:syntax/literals.rdoc]

for::
  A loop that is similar to using the +each+ method.  See {control
  expressions}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

if::
  Used for +if+ and modifier +if+ statements.  See {control
  expressions}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

in::
  Used to separate the iterable object and iterator variable in a +for+ loop.
  See {control expressions}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]
  It also serves as a pattern in a +case+ expression.
  See {pattern matching}[rdoc-ref:syntax/pattern_matching.rdoc]

module::
  Creates or opens a module.  See {modules and classes
  syntax}[rdoc-ref:syntax/modules_and_classes.rdoc]

next::
  Skips the rest of the block.  See {control
  expressions}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

nil::
  A false value usually indicating "no value" or "unknown".  See
  {literals}[rdoc-ref:syntax/literals.rdoc]

not::
  Inverts the following boolean expression.  Has a lower precedence than
  <code>!</code>

or::
  Boolean or with lower precedence than <code>||</code>

redo::
  Restarts execution in the current block.  See {control
  expressions}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

rescue::
  Starts an exception section of code in a +begin+ block.  See {exception
  handling}[rdoc-ref:syntax/exceptions.rdoc]

retry::
  Retries an exception block.  See {exception
  handling}[rdoc-ref:syntax/exceptions.rdoc]

return::
  Exits a method.  See {methods}[rdoc-ref:syntax/methods.rdoc].
  If met in top-level scope, immediately stops interpretation of
  the current file.

self::
  The object the current method is attached to.  See
  {methods}[rdoc-ref:syntax/methods.rdoc]

super::
  Calls the current method in a superclass.  See
  {methods}[rdoc-ref:syntax/methods.rdoc]

then::
  Indicates the end of conditional blocks in control structures.  See
  {control expressions}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

true::
  Boolean true.  See {literals}[rdoc-ref:syntax/literals.rdoc]

undef::
  Prevents a class or module from responding to a method call.
  See {modules and classes}[rdoc-ref:syntax/modules_and_classes.rdoc]

unless::
  Used for +unless+ and modifier +unless+ statements.  See {control
  expressions}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

until::
  Creates a loop that executes until the condition is true.  See
  {control expressions}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

when::
  A condition in a +case+ expression.  See
  {control expressions}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

while::
  Creates a loop that executes while the condition is true.  See
  {control expressions}[rdoc-ref:syntax/control_expressions.rdoc]

yield::
  Starts execution of the block sent to the current method.  See
  {methods}[rdoc-ref:syntax/methods.rdoc]