instance method mattr_accessor

Defines both class and instance accessors for class attributes. All class and instance methods created will be public, even if this method is called with a private or protected access modifier.

module HairColors
  mattr_accessor :hair_colors
end

class Person
  include HairColors
end

HairColors.hair_colors = [:brown, :black, :blonde, :red]
HairColors.hair_colors # => [:brown, :black, :blonde, :red]
Person.new.hair_colors # => [:brown, :black, :blonde, :red]

If a subclass changes the value then that would also change the value for parent class. Similarly if parent class changes the value then that would change the value of subclasses too.

class Male < Person
end

Male.new.hair_colors << :blue
Person.new.hair_colors # => [:brown, :black, :blonde, :red, :blue]

To opt out of the instance writer method, pass instance_writer: false. To opt out of the instance reader method, pass instance_reader: false.

module HairColors
  mattr_accessor :hair_colors, instance_writer: false, instance_reader: false
end

class Person
  include HairColors
end

Person.new.hair_colors = [:brown]  # => NoMethodError
Person.new.hair_colors             # => NoMethodError

Or pass instance_accessor: false, to opt out both instance methods.

module HairColors
  mattr_accessor :hair_colors, instance_accessor: false
end

class Person
  include HairColors
end

Person.new.hair_colors = [:brown]  # => NoMethodError
Person.new.hair_colors             # => NoMethodError

You can set a default value for the attribute.

module HairColors
  mattr_accessor :hair_colors, default: [:brown, :black, :blonde, :red]
end

class Person
  include HairColors
end

Person.class_variable_get("@@hair_colors") # => [:brown, :black, :blonde, :red]