Different Ways of Creating Class Method in Ruby

Question

Example 1:

class Dog
  def self.class_method
    :another_way_to_write_class_methods
  end
end

def test_you_can_use_self_instead_of_an_explicit_reference_to_dog
  assert_equal :another_way_to_write_class_methods, Dog.class_method
end

Example 2:

class Dog
  class << self
    def another_class_method
      :still_another_way
    end
  end
end

def test_heres_still_another_way_to_write_class_methods
  assert_equal :still_another_way, Dog.another_class_method
end

May I know which way of writing the class method is preferred in Ruby and why? Are there situations where one is preferred over another?

Answer 1

this ruby style guide says the class << self syntax is "possible and convenient when you have to define many class methods."

They have code examples using both versions, so there's definitely not a broad community consensus for using one over the other.

I personally use def self.my_method to minimize indentation