From: Sam Sungshik Kong <ssk@...>
Date: 2004-06-26T02:38:05+09:00
Subject: I am confused with Value Type Objects

Hello!

In ruby, every object is reference type except for FixNum, NilClass,
TrueClass, FalseClass.
Let's consider FixNum only.

According to http://www.rubygarden.org/ruby?GCAndMemoryManagement, FixNum
takes only 4 bytes (on 32-bit machines).
Is it true?
If so, doesn't it have any other information except for the value itself?
How does ruby know that a FixNum is actually a FixNum instead of a reference
to an object when it doesn't have any information about the type?

I'm from C# background.
In C# (actually dotnet framework), values types are structures not just a
simple value.

Could somebody resolve my confusion?

Thanks.

Sam