From: Tom Werner <tom@...>
Date: 2006-07-29T06:47:16+09:00
Subject: Re: does ":" have an anolog in another language?

dblack@wobblini.net wrote:
> Hi --
>
> On Sat, 29 Jul 2006, Matt Todd wrote:
>
>> Really as an example of its objectness. It's a way to look at the
>> literal (:symbol_name) as the same as an instanciation, but with
>> conditions (of uniqueness).
>
> You might as well save the round trip, though :-)  It's in the same
> category as integers: unique and immediate, as well as immutable.
>
>
> David
>
The most salient symbol example for me has always been:

 > irb --simple-prompt
 >> "foo".object_id
=> 23208408
 >> "foo".object_id
=> 23205828
 >> :foo.object_id
=> 5896462
 >> :foo.object_id
=> 5896462

Tom

-- 
Tom Werner
Helmets to Hardhats
Software Developer
tom@helmetstohardhats.org
www.helmetstohardhats.org