Metatables give Lua tables custom behavior through metamethods, covering __index, __newindex, operator overloading, read-only tables, and OOP foundations.
Tutorial series
Lua OOP
5 tutorials — follow in order for the best learning path.
- Metatables: What They Are and Why They Matter
- Building Classes in Lua with Metatables: OOP Step by Step
Guide to building classes in Lua with metatables. Covers constructors, methods, the self parameter, private members, and inheritance patterns step by step.
- Every Lua Metamethod Explained
A complete reference to every Lua metamethod with runnable code examples. Learn arithmetic, comparison, index, and cleanup hooks in Lua 5.4.
- Single and Multiple Inheritance in Lua
Master inheritance in Lua using metatables, covering single and multiple inheritance patterns with practical code examples and common pitfalls.
- Mixins and Composition Patterns in Lua
Learn how to use mixins and composition in Lua to add functionality to objects without the constraints of traditional inheritance.