In general it is possible to compare two classes like this
x = "String" puts "A string" if x.class == String But, when case is used like this,
x = "String" case x.class when String puts "A string" end It doesn't work. Why?
Update:
In the following case,
x = "String" case x when String puts "A string" end it works. Does it mean, case converts classes into strings implicitly?
The comparison is done by comparing the object in the when-clause with the object in the case-clause using the === operator. That operator works as expected with literals, but not with classes. This means that if you want to do a case ... when over an object's class, this will not work.
>> 1 === 1 => true >> 1.class === 1.class => false A good explanation and a small showcase on using the === on Class instances in Ruby is in this answer
1.class === 1 is true.
=== ist just a method that's been called on an instance and the instance can do whatever it sees fit. So obviously a Fixnum class matches its values inside the method ===
classofxis aString. Well, obviously, it isn't, it's aClass. In the second example, you are asking whetherxis aString, and that's the case.