Overwrite Ruby's #to_s method for cleaning up views.

ruby-to_s-method.rb

# By making use of Ruby's natural coercion methods (i.e. #to_s, #to_i)
# we can save some headaches with potential nil objects.

# By overwriting the #to_s method on a class, we can get a lot of benefits
# in our presentation logic. We don't have to remember are we using #title
# or #pretty_title.

# I would caution that we not put markup in the #to_s method, as that violates
# the intent of #to_s. In fact, markup should probably not be in the model,
# as the markup makes an assumption about how the content is presented.

# If an object can be known by different names, then the #to_s method may not
# work. However, I would challenge us to ask why an object is known by different
# names and consider refactoring that object.

class Person
  attr_accessor :name
end

class Place
  attr_accessor :name

  def to_s
    "#{name}"
  end
end
@person = Person.new
@person.name = "Jeremy Friesen"

@place = Place.new
@place.name = "Hesburgh Library"

puts @person
# => "#<Person:0x107a3d9e8>"

puts @place
# => "Hesburgh Library"

puts "Hello #{@person}, you are at #{@place}"
# => "Hello #<Person:0x107a3d9e8>, you are at Hesburgh Library"