Method: ERB#initialize

Defined in:

lib/erb.rb

#initialize(str, safe_level = NOT_GIVEN, legacy_trim_mode = NOT_GIVEN, legacy_eoutvar = NOT_GIVEN, trim_mode: nil, eoutvar: '_erbout') ⇒ ERB

Constructs a new ERB object with the template specified in str.

An ERB object works by building a chunk of Ruby code that will output the completed template when run.

If trim_mode is passed a String containing one or more of the following modifiers, ERB will adjust its code generation as listed:

%  enables Ruby code processing for lines beginning with %
<> omit newline for lines starting with <% and ending in %>
>  omit newline for lines ending in %>
-  omit blank lines ending in -%>

eoutvar can be used to set the name of the variable ERB will build up its output in. This is useful when you need to run multiple ERB templates through the same binding and/or when you want to control where output ends up. Pass the name of the variable to be used inside a String.

Example

require "erb"

# build data class
class Listings
  PRODUCT = { :name => "Chicken Fried Steak",
              :desc => "A well messages pattie, breaded and fried.",
              :cost => 9.95 }

  attr_reader :product, :price

  def initialize( product = "", price = "" )
    @product = product
    @price = price
  end

  def build
    b = binding
    # create and run templates, filling member data variables
    ERB.new(<<-'END_PRODUCT'.gsub(/^\s+/, ""), trim_mode: "", eoutvar: "@product").result b
      <%= PRODUCT[:name] %>
      <%= PRODUCT[:desc] %>
    END_PRODUCT
    ERB.new(<<-'END_PRICE'.gsub(/^\s+/, ""), trim_mode: "", eoutvar: "@price").result b
      <%= PRODUCT[:name] %> -- <%= PRODUCT[:cost] %>
      <%= PRODUCT[:desc] %>
    END_PRICE
  end
end

# setup template data
listings = Listings.new
listings.build

puts listings.product + "\n" + listings.price

Generates

Chicken Fried Steak
A well messages pattie, breaded and fried.

Chicken Fried Steak -- 9.95
A well messages pattie, breaded and fried.

# File 'lib/erb.rb', line 809

def initialize(str, safe_level=NOT_GIVEN, legacy_trim_mode=NOT_GIVEN, legacy_eoutvar=NOT_GIVEN, trim_mode: nil, eoutvar: '_erbout')
  # Complex initializer for $SAFE deprecation at [Feature #14256]. Use keyword arguments to pass trim_mode or eoutvar.
  if safe_level != NOT_GIVEN
    warn 'Passing safe_level with the 2nd argument of ERB.new is deprecated. Do not use it, and specify other arguments as keyword arguments.', uplevel: 1 if $VERBOSE || !ZERO_SAFE_LEVELS.include?(safe_level)
  end
  if legacy_trim_mode != NOT_GIVEN
    warn 'Passing trim_mode with the 3rd argument of ERB.new is deprecated. Use keyword argument like ERB.new(str, trim_mode: ...) instead.', uplevel: 1 if $VERBOSE
    trim_mode = legacy_trim_mode
  end
  if legacy_eoutvar != NOT_GIVEN
    warn 'Passing eoutvar with the 4th argument of ERB.new is deprecated. Use keyword argument like ERB.new(str, eoutvar: ...) instead.', uplevel: 1 if $VERBOSE
    eoutvar = legacy_eoutvar
  end

  compiler = make_compiler(trim_mode)
  set_eoutvar(compiler, eoutvar)
  @src, @encoding, @frozen_string = *compiler.compile(str)
  @filename = nil
  @lineno = 0
  @_init = self.class.singleton_class
end