From: Dave Burt <dave@...>
Date: 2005-12-05T15:32:33+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby :symbols and C *pointers are related?

Peter asked:
> I'm still trying to grasp exactly what symbols are. I am getting a
> feeling that they are related to my old friends the C pointers. Am I
> getting closer?

I think the closest link between C pointers and symbols is that C strings 
are C pointers, and symbols are (immutable) strings.

A symbol is just an immutable string. It's used in a few ways that make it 
faster to use a symbol, for instance, to look up methods.

Kevin Clark wrote a short article entitled Understanding Ruby Symbols:
http://glu.ttono.us/articles/2005/08/19/understanding-ruby-symbols

Cheers,
Dave