Ruby Academy · Lesson

Defining Methods

Learn how to create and use methods with parameters and return values for code reusability.

Lesson 1 of 310 steps

Defining Methods is a free Ruby Academy lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 1 of 3. Any 3 lessons of this learning path are free to read in full — after that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus hands-on practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Ruby Academy learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The Ruby Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.

Defining Methods

Methods help you write reusable and modular code in Ruby.

In this lesson, you will learn how to define and use methods with parameters and return values.

Defining a Simple Method

Methods in Ruby are defined using the def keyword.

def say_hello
  puts 'Hello, Ruby!'
end

say_hello

Methods with Parameters

Methods can take parameters to work with different values.

def greet(name)
  puts "Hello, #{name}!"
end

greet('Alice')

Default Parameters

You can assign default values to method parameters.

def greet(name = 'Guest')
  puts "Hello, #{name}!"
end

greet

greet('Alice')

Methods with Return Values

Methods can return values using the return keyword.

def square(number)
  return number * number
end

puts square(4)

Returning Multiple Values

Methods can return multiple values as an array.

def get_coordinates
  return 10, 20
end

x, y = get_coordinates
puts "X: #{x}, Y: #{y}"

Calling Methods Inside Other Methods

Methods can call other methods for modularity.

def square(n)
  n * n
end

def cube(n)
  n * square(n)
end

puts cube(3)

Answer it in the interactive lesson

Using Methods with Conditional Statements

Methods can include conditional logic.

def check_age(age)
  if age >= 18
    'Adult'
  else
    'Minor'
  end
end

puts check_age(20)

Congratulations!

You have learned how to define and use methods in Ruby.

Next, you will learn about blocks, Procs, and Lambdas.

Free to start

Learn Ruby with an AI tutor — free

Write and run real code in your browser, get instant help from a 24/7 AI tutor, and pick up where you left off on the web or in the app.

Courses: 29
Lessons: 109

Start learning free View the full course

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the “Defining Methods” lesson free?

Yes — any 3 lessons of the Ruby Academy learning path, including “Defining Methods”, are free to read in full here on the web. After that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus interactive practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. The Ruby Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.

What will I learn in “Defining Methods”?

Learn how to create and use methods with parameters and return values for code reusability. You practise Ruby Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start Ruby Academy?

No prior experience is required. Ruby Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 1 of 3.

How long does the “Defining Methods” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this Ruby Academy lesson?

Yes. Every Ruby Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

← Back to Ruby Academy