protected.rb

1.9.3p194 :001 > class MyClass
1.9.3p194 :002?>     protected
1.9.3p194 :003?>     def foo; puts "foo"; end
1.9.3p194 :004?>   end
 => nil 
1.9.3p194 :005 > 
1.9.3p194 :006 >   class YourClass < MyClass
1.9.3p194 :007?>     def call_stuff
1.9.3p194 :008?>         foo
1.9.3p194 :009?>         YourClass.new.foo
1.9.3p194 :010?>         MyClass.new.foo
1.9.3p194 :011?>       end
1.9.3p194 :012?>   end
 => nil 
1.9.3p194 :013 > 
1.9.3p194 :014 >   class OtherClass
1.9.3p194 :015?>     def call_stuff
1.9.3p194 :016?>         YourClass.new.foo
1.9.3p194 :017?>         MyClass.new.foo
1.9.3p194 :018?>       end
1.9.3p194 :019?>   end
 => nil 
1.9.3p194 :020 > YourClass.new.call_stuff
foo
foo
foo
 => nil 
1.9.3p194 :021 > OtherClass.new.call_stuff
NoMethodError: protected method `foo' called for #<YourClass:0x00000100b3e420>
  from (irb):16:in `call_stuff'
	from (irb):21
	from /Users/mark/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.3-p194/bin/irb:16:in `<main>'
1.9.3p194 :022 >