Lua Class:method() or Class.method(self)?

[zbizu]

Let's say that I'm making a new method (function) to existing metatable (class), long after the metatable was defined.

Should I register some new method as function Class:getter() ... end or function Class.getter(self) ... end?

What are benefits/downsides of each of them? Is one form better than the other or it's just a matter of preference?
Please don't refer me to documentation, I haven't found anything that would explain it good enough.

 

[oen432]

What are benefits/downsides of each of them?

Less/more characters per function definition lol.
It doesn't affect performance or anything at all if that's what you are asking.
Class:method() variant is my go to.

 

[zbizu]

found something interesting actually:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4911186/difference-between-and-in-lua/51894522#51894522

 

[CWMsollutions]

so summarizing: "." is object instance specific method, meanwhile ":" is class specific method?

 

[oen432]

found something interesting actually:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4911186/difference-between-and-in-lua/51894522#51894522

But this is such rare, almost non existent case where it would matter. Adding costly code into __index? You deserve slower performance

 

[zbizu]

so summarizing: "." is object instance specific method, meanwhile ":" is class specific method?

. is for reaching table index, : is metatable method definition/call. While both do work, if I understand correctly indexing a metatable through . calls __index twice.

I needed a pretext to refactor libs folder anyway.