From: Glenn Smith Date: 2005-04-11T04:07:30+09:00 Subject: Re: Symbols... Perfect! Thanks muchly Glenn On Apr 10, 2005 7:18 PM, Saynatkari wrote: > > Le 10/4/2005, "Glenn Smith" a �crit: > >Nope, still not entirely sure I *get* symbols. > > > >I'm writing stuff in rails at the moment, and *seem* to have free > >choice as to whether to use something like: > > > >@params[:year] > > > >or > > > >@params['year'] > > > >What's the difference? Coming from mainly a VB and PL/SQL (and rarely > >'C') I'm not sure there is an equivalent in these languages? Just not > >sure I get them... > > Symbols are immutable, unlike Strings. The biggest difference, > however, is the conceptual one. Wherever you need to use a > descriptive value for a variable (basically wherever you would > use a string in other languages) you have the choice of using > a String or a Symbol; for you, the programmer, both can convey > immediate information about the value (:flag_set or 'flag set' > is clearer than 1) and they are especially useful as Hash keys. > > Symbols are slightly more lightweight than Strings and, along > with them being the 'Ruby Way', that is the main reason to use > them. > > My rule of thumb is to use Symbols anytime a string representation > is needed but I will not need to modify the string or output > it to a user. > > >Help? > > >Glenn > > E > > -- > No-one expects the Solaris POSIX implementation! > > -- All the best Glenn Aylesbury, UK